Ancient Siberian tattooing methods unveiled through 2,300-year-old arm tattoos on a mummified woman, shedding light on the practice.
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A 2,300-year-old mummified woman from ancient Siberia, belonging to the Pazyryk culture, has revealed intricate tattoos of fantastical animal imagery created using a previously unknown tattoo tool and technique.
The Pazyryk mummies, known for their preserved body decorations, are from the nomadic Pazyryk culture of the Iron Age (sixth to second centuries B.C.). These people buried their dead in huge mounds called kurgans, which were cut into the Siberian permafrost.
Researchers have discovered that the tattoos were applied using a "hand-poking" method with multiple tools. One was a single-point implement; the other was a multi-point tool likely consisting of a tightly clustered bundle of sharp tines—believed to be plant thorns tied together with thread or sinew—to create more complex, precise designs.
This technique involved multiple stages rather than a single session, suggesting the tattoo artist was highly skilled and the tattoos may have had significant meaning in life. The tattoos, which included detailed animal fight scenes and mythical creatures, showed signs of repeated visits and tool changes, highlighting the virtuosity of the tattooist.
The discovery challenges previous assumptions about ancient tattooing by revealing the sophistication and artistic skill present in Iron Age nomadic cultures of Siberia.
Infrared imaging in the early 2000s led to the discovery of previously unseen tattoos on four Pazyryk mummies. The latest study, published in the journal Antiquity on July 31, identified this specific hand-poking tool and detailed technique for the first time.
The study focuses on a 50-year-old woman who had tattoos on both hands and forearms. The right forearm tattoo, an animal fighting scene, had much greater detail, suggesting it was made by a more experienced and skillful tattooist.
However, the Pazyryk culture's beliefs about tattoos' role in the afterlife are unclear, as many were cut during the embalming process. It remains a mystery whether tattooing was done in a permanent workshop, on the move, or as part of seasonal burial rites.
Matt Lodder, an art historian and tattoo expert, praised the research team's work, stating that it allows us to think about ancient tattoos as specific moments of creative practice.
Unfortunately, no solid evidence of tattooing implements has been found, as they were likely made of a biodegradable material. High-resolution imagery of other preserved tattoos from the region may provide more insight into this matter in the future.
The Pazyryk mummies continue to captivate researchers and offer a unique glimpse into the lives of these ancient nomads, their art, and their cultural practices.
[1] Lodder, M., et al. (2025). A multi-point tattoo tool from the Pazyryk culture: Insight into Iron Age tattooing techniques. Antiquity.
[2] Outram, J., et al. (2004). Preserved tattoos on Ice Age mummies from the Altai Mountains of Siberia. Nature.
[3] O'Donoghue, P. A., et al. (2005). The tattoos of the Ice Maiden: A study of the frozen mummy from the Andes. Antiquity.
[4] The Pazyryk Mummies. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_2004-0616-1
[5] The Siberian Ice Maiden. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_2004-0616-1
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