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Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Rare face tattoos on 800-year-old mystery mummy baffle archaeologists
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. An 800-year-old mummy donated to a museum in Italy a century ago has revealed new clues about ancient face tattoos. But the mummy's origin remains shrouded in mystery. Some time prior to 1930, the mummy of an adult female was donated to the Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (MAET) at the University of Turin, with no records of its archaeological context. The mummy recently caught the attention of a team of researchers due to the surprising presence of tattoos on her face. In a study published in the May-June issue of the Journal of Cultural Heritage, the international team of researchers detailed their analysis of the mummy and her tattoos, noting that they were extremely unusual both in their location and in the composition of the ink used to make them. The mummy has straight black hair cropped short and is tightly flexed into a seated position, typical of mummy burials in the Andes. Researchers carbon-dated textile fragments stuck to the body and determined the woman died between A.D. 1215 and 1382. "On the basis of current evidence — particularly preservation, body placement, associated materials and documents — a South American origin is strongly supported," study lead author Gianluigi Mangiapane, an anthropologist at the University of Turin, told Live Science in an email. Related: Lasers reveal hidden patterns in tattoos of 1,200-year-old Peru mummies But while looking closely at the mummy using infrared reflectography, a technique often used to "see through" paint layers of artwork to find older brush strokes, the research team noted a series of unusual tattoos: three lines on the mummy's right cheek, one line on the left cheek and an S-shape on the right wrist. "Skin marks on the face are rare among the groups of the ancient Andean region and even rarer on the cheeks," the researchers wrote in the study, and the S-shaped tattoo "is so far unique for the Andean region." To identify the ink used to make the tattoos, the researchers used a suite of non-destructive techniques. Although they expected to find evidence of charcoal in the ink, they instead discovered that the unusual ink was made with magnetite, an iron oxide mineral, with traces of the mineral augite. In South America, augite and magnetite can be found together in southern Peru, suggesting a potential homeland for the mummified woman. "There are a small number of ethnographic accounts from the Americas that describe the use of mineral or earth pigments such as hematite or magnetite for tattooing, and the new study fits quite nicely with those," Aaron Deter-Wolf, an archaeologist at the Tennessee Division of Archaeology who was not involved in the study, told Live Science by email. But Deter-Wolf, who is an expert in ancient tattooing, is not convinced that the mystery mummy hails from the Andes. RELATED STORIES —People 'finger painted' the skulls of their ancestors red in the Andes a millennium ago —1,000-year-old mummy in fetal position found in underground tomb in Peru —'Pregnant' ancient Egyptian mummy with 'cancer' actually wasn't pregnant and didn't have cancer, new study finds "Stylistically, these particular face markings have far more in common with historic Arctic or Amazonian traditions than with Andean practices," Deter-Wolf said. "It would be fascinating to see what oxygen isotopes or other studies might be able to tell us about the origins of this individual." At this stage, though, isotope analyses have not been carried out. "Since these types of analyses are invasive, we have currently decided to limit such procedures in order to preserve the integrity of the remains," Mangiapane said. But the MAET that houses the mummy is interested in further investigation, Mangiapane said, and this may include future cultural comparisons to better understand the nature of the mysterious mummy's facial tattoos.
The Irish Sun
22-05-2025
- Science
- The Irish Sun
Mysterious mummy with face tattoos STILL visible after 800yrs found & scientists are baffled by the ink that was used
LONG lost tattoos have been discovered on the face of an 800-year-old South American woman whose remains were donated to an Italian museum nearly a century ago. While humans have been inking ourselves for millennia, according to researchers, the tattoos on this mysterious mummy are unique in several ways. 3 A minimalist but uncommon three-line design has been found on her cheeks Credit: Mangiapane et al, Journal of Cultural Heritage, 2025 3 The left cheek was not as well preserved as the right, but there are signs of a tattoo Credit: Mangiapane et al, Journal of Cultural Heritage, 2025 A team of anthropologists and archeologists, led by Gianluigi Mangiapane from the University of Turin in Italy, found unique tattoo designs on the mummy, which had been unusually well preserved. The mummification process has darkened her skin, making the tattoos harder to see. But with an array of imaging techniques, researchers have been able to get a better picture of the unique designs. A minimalist but uncommon three-line design has been found on her cheeks - with the design on the right cheek being better preserved than the one on the right. READ MORE ON ARCHAEOLOGY Cheek tattoos are rarely discovered - or are easily missed - "due to difficulties in finding preserved skin," according to researchers. "The three detected lines of tattooing are relatively unique: in general, skin marks on the face are rare among the groups of the ancient Andean region and even rarer on the cheeks," they wrote in their study, published in An S-shaped tattoo has also been found on one of her wrists - a common placement for tattoos among South American cultures the time. The ink that was used is also pretty unique - consisting of magnetite , a black, metallic, and magnetic iron ore , instead of the usual charcoal. Most read in Science The mummy may therefore present "possibly [the] first evidence" of magnetite used for tattooing in the past in South America. The body was found in a sitting position with no accompanying funerary wrappings, ornaments, or grave goods. Shock footage reveals moment a medieval mummy is seized in house raid But her black hair was well preserved by natural dehydration, while a few pieces of fabric were stuck to the surface of the body. Researchers believe the textiles could be from long lost animal fibres wrappings or bundles. It's unclear where the mummy came from, due to relatively shoddy museum records in the past century. Her remains were donated to the Italian Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography in 1931, with nearly no context besides the donors name. Filed only under 'South American artifacts', the age of the remains, and where they came from, have remained a mystery until now. Researchers were able to date the remains to from 1215 CE to 1382 CE. And there are also some hints as to her origins. The way her body was seated in an upright position suggests a preservation technique known as 'fardo'. The body would have been wrapped tightly in this position with many layers of fabric and then tied in a bundle - a common funerary practice in Paracas culture, of the Andean region on the south coast of 3 An archive photograph from 1930 showing the mummified body in a museum showcase, alongside other human remains Credit: Mangiapane et al, Journal of Cultural Heritage, 2025
The Sun
22-05-2025
- Science
- The Sun
Mysterious mummy with face tattoos STILL visible after 800yrs found & scientists are baffled by the ink that was used
LONG lost tattoos have been discovered on the face of an 800-year-old South American woman whose remains were donated to an Italian museum nearly a century ago. While humans have been inking ourselves for millennia, according to researchers, the tattoos on this mysterious mummy are unique in several ways. 3 3 A team of anthropologists and archeologists, led by Gianluigi Mangiapane from the University of Turin in Italy, found unique tattoo designs on the mummy, which had been unusually well preserved. The mummification process has darkened her skin, making the tattoos harder to see. But with an array of imaging techniques, researchers have been able to get a better picture of the unique designs. A minimalist but uncommon three-line design has been found on her cheeks - with the design on the right cheek being better preserved than the one on the right. Cheek tattoos are rarely discovered - or are easily missed - "due to difficulties in finding preserved skin," according to researchers. "The three detected lines of tattooing are relatively unique: in general, skin marks on the face are rare among the groups of the ancient Andean region and even rarer on the cheeks," they wrote in their study, published in Journal of Cultural Heritage. An S-shaped tattoo has also been found on one of her wrists - a common placement for tattoos among South American cultures the time. The ink that was used is also pretty unique - consisting of magnetite, a black, metallic, and magnetic iron ore, instead of the usual charcoal. The mummy may therefore present "possibly [the] first evidence" of magnetite used for tattooing in the past in South America. The body was found in a sitting position with no accompanying funerary wrappings, ornaments, or grave goods. Shock footage reveals moment a medieval mummy is seized in house raid But her black hair was well preserved by natural dehydration, while a few pieces of fabric were stuck to the surface of the body. Researchers believe the textiles could be from long lost animal fibres wrappings or bundles. It's unclear where the mummy came from, due to relatively shoddy museum records in the past century. Her remains were donated to the Italian Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography in 1931, with nearly no context besides the donors name. Filed only under 'South American artifacts', the age of the remains, and where they came from, have remained a mystery until now. Researchers were able to date the remains to from 1215 CE to 1382 CE. And there are also some hints as to her origins. The way her body was seated in an upright position suggests a preservation technique known as 'fardo'. The body would have been wrapped tightly in this position with many layers of fabric and then tied in a bundle - a common funerary practice in Paracas culture, of the Andean region on the south coast of Peru.
Scottish Sun
22-05-2025
- Science
- Scottish Sun
Mysterious mummy with face tattoos STILL visible after 800yrs found & scientists are baffled by the ink that was used
Cheek tattoos are rarely discovered - or are easily missed - "due to difficulties in finding preserved skin," according to researchers TAT'S AMAZING Mysterious mummy with face tattoos STILL visible after 800yrs found & scientists are baffled by the ink that was used Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) LONG lost tattoos have been discovered on the face of an 800-year-old South American woman whose remains were donated to an Italian museum nearly a century ago. While humans have been inking ourselves for millennia, according to researchers, the tattoos on this mysterious mummy are unique in several ways. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 A minimalist but uncommon three-line design has been found on her cheeks Credit: Mangiapane et al, Journal of Cultural Heritage, 2025 3 The left cheek was not as well preserved as the right, but there are signs of a tattoo Credit: Mangiapane et al, Journal of Cultural Heritage, 2025 A team of anthropologists and archeologists, led by Gianluigi Mangiapane from the University of Turin in Italy, found unique tattoo designs on the mummy, which had been unusually well preserved. The mummification process has darkened her skin, making the tattoos harder to see. But with an array of imaging techniques, researchers have been able to get a better picture of the unique designs. A minimalist but uncommon three-line design has been found on her cheeks - with the design on the right cheek being better preserved than the one on the right. READ MORE ON ARCHAEOLOGY GATES OF HELL Mysterious giant pink DOOR 'to the underworld' found in 4,400 year old tomb Cheek tattoos are rarely discovered - or are easily missed - "due to difficulties in finding preserved skin," according to researchers. "The three detected lines of tattooing are relatively unique: in general, skin marks on the face are rare among the groups of the ancient Andean region and even rarer on the cheeks," they wrote in their study, published in Journal of Cultural Heritage. An S-shaped tattoo has also been found on one of her wrists - a common placement for tattoos among South American cultures the time. The ink that was used is also pretty unique - consisting of magnetite, a black, metallic, and magnetic iron ore, instead of the usual charcoal. The mummy may therefore present "possibly [the] first evidence" of magnetite used for tattooing in the past in South America. The body was found in a sitting position with no accompanying funerary wrappings, ornaments, or grave goods. Shock footage reveals moment a medieval mummy is seized in house raid But her black hair was well preserved by natural dehydration, while a few pieces of fabric were stuck to the surface of the body. Researchers believe the textiles could be from long lost animal fibres wrappings or bundles. It's unclear where the mummy came from, due to relatively shoddy museum records in the past century. Her remains were donated to the Italian Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography in 1931, with nearly no context besides the donors name. Filed only under 'South American artifacts', the age of the remains, and where they came from, have remained a mystery until now. Researchers were able to date the remains to from 1215 CE to 1382 CE. And there are also some hints as to her origins. The way her body was seated in an upright position suggests a preservation technique known as 'fardo'. The body would have been wrapped tightly in this position with many layers of fabric and then tied in a bundle - a common funerary practice in Paracas culture, of the Andean region on the south coast of Peru.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Unusual Face Tatts Discovered on Mysterious South American Mummy
South American mummies have become known for their impressive tattoos, but an analysis has found the design inked into the cheek of an approximately 800-year-old woman buried in the region is unique in many ways. While we humans have been decorating ourselves with permanent skin art for thousands of years, evidence of the artwork is often lost to the sands of time. Tools have been found here and there, but it's rare for the tattooed skin itself to survive. In South America, though, preserved tattoos are fairly common among millennium-old mummies, particularly because the coastal deserts where they were buried are ideal for protecting soft tissue like skin from decay. A team of anthropologists and archeologists led by Gianluigi Mangiapane from the University of Turin in Italy have taken a closer look at the remains of one woman whose tattoos make her stand out from the crowd. The exact origin of this particular mummy is unfortunately unknown, because her remains were donated to the Italian Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography nearly a century ago with essentially no context other than the Italian donor's name and the fact she was filed under 'South American artifacts'. But there are some hints as to her origins. The way her body was seated in an upright, knees-bent position suggests a state of preservation known as a 'fardo', in which the corpse is wrapped in many layers of fabric and then tied into a bundle. This was a common funerary practice in Paracas culture in the Andean region, on the south coast of Peru. Radiocarbon dating of the textile fragments that still cling to the woman's body revealed she lived between 1215 and 1382 CE. Her tattoos are somewhat hard to see thanks to the mummification process darkening her skin, so the team used an array of non-destructive imaging techniques to get a better picture of the surprisingly minimalist designs. An S-shaped tattoo adorns one of her wrists; a common placement for tattoos among South American cultures the time. Yet even that design is much simpler than those typically seen on the hands, wrists, forearms, and feet of their mummies. What stands out most, of course, is the mummy's unusual cheek tattoos, which are also curiously simple in their design. Among ancient South American tattoos, the authors write, "cheek tattoos are less present (or underestimated due to difficulties in finding preserved skin)." "The three detected lines of tattooing are relatively unique: in general, skin marks on the face are rare among the groups of the ancient Andean region and even rarer on the cheeks," they report. Chemical analysis suggests the tattoo's black ink was made from magnetite, a black, metallic, and magnetic iron ore. That's unusual, too: archaeologists tend to assume black tattoo ink was made from charcoal, though the authors point out that few studies actually investigate the ink composition at a chemical level. This kind of pigment, the authors say, has not been reported in any other South American mummies. "The intentional use of only charcoal pigments, which are the most commonly used materials according to the literature, can be ruled out in this case," they write. "The results highlight the presence of magnetite, a commonly used material both in present and past cultures, as well as of other iron-rich phases of the pyroxene silicates group… with a small amount of carbon-based materials, possibly not intentionally added (e.g. due to pigment preparation procedures)." What do her unique tattoos mean, you ask? Well, obviously they were meant to be seen by others, since they would not have been covered by clothing. But what they were meant to communicate, exactly, remains a mystery. The research was published in Journal of Cultural Heritage. The Speed of Your Eyes Could Hide Objects in Plain Sight Tales of Viking Pregnancy Reveal The Fierce Side of Norse Mothers Song And Dance May Not Be Universal Human Behaviors, Study Shows
