The word tattoo is said to come from two different places.
The Polynesian word ‘ta’ which means striking something, and the Tahitian word ‘tatau’ which means ‘to mark something’.
It is widely believed that tattoos were discovered over 5000 years ago by accident. A person probably rubbed their tiny wound with fingers covered in soot or ashes. Once the wound had healed, that genius person had a permanent mark left behind.
In 1991 an ice mummy who was later named ‘Otzi the iceman’ was discovered on a mountain situated between Italy and Austria. Otzi still remains the best preserved ice mummy that lived 5000 years ago. Here;s the interesting part, Otzi has 57 tattoos. Otzi’s tattoos were probably a treatment for arthritis. Otzi had a cross tattooed on the inside of his left knee, as well as six straight lines above his kidneys, and on the ankles.
