The art of tattooing has been practiced since the end of the Stone Age, some 12,000 years ago. The first tattoos were simple dots and lines, and the application method was difficult and much more painful than today. The earliest method of creating these tattoo designs in skin was by physically cutting into the skin with a knife and rubbing pigment into it. Often the pigment was ash, but other minerals such as copper, to create bluish designs, were used. In early Middle Eastern cultures, the ashes of a deceased loved one were rubbed into a self inflicted wound, so the dead literally became a part of that person, and they have a constant reminder because of the permanence of even the most poorly done body modification.The reasons for getting tattoos vary from culture to culture, and have changed over time. They have been used to denote rank or accomplishments, especially the traditional tattoo designs of the Philippines. They have served as rites of passage, pledges of love, punishment or as symbols of religious devotion. They have been used as amulets, with the bearer believed to be protected from certain things because of their markings. They have also been used to mark slave, prisoners and outcasts.
In Maori culture, the body was believed to be naked until it had tattooed markings on the face called "Moko". These were also used as identification, one side would have the mother's markings, the other side that of the father. A person's front would typically show their profession. Many tribal leaders utilizes the designs of their faces for writing signatures when dealing with newly arrived Europeans.
Tattooing has experienced a recent resurgence in popularity. The primary reason for their use today is cosmetic enhancement. However, tattoos for sentimental reasons and military or gang membership are also common. One popular gang tattoo is a black tear placed by the eye. It can mean that they have murdered someone, or had a friend killed. The number of tears denotes the number of kills and is used as a reminder as well as an unspoken threat. "Prison tats", as they are often called, have very simple tattoo designs so they can be easily applied behind bars. These designs also have a great degree of hidden meaning that is not understood by the general public but is an important part of the criminal underworld.
