Altai Tattoos Reveal Ancient Artistic Skill and Craftsmanship
Published on 8.3.25
Archaeologists have used infrared imaging to study the intricate tattoos of the Pazyryk culture, Iron Age pastoralists from the Altai Mountains. The tattoos, which were invisible to the naked eye when first discovered in the 1940s, can now be seen in high-resolution images taken using digital near-infrared photography. These images reveal detailed designs including leopards, stags, and a mythical creature, suggesting that tattooing was not just decorative but a skilled craft requiring technical ability and training. The study of these tattoos provides new insights into prehistoric body modification practices and challenges the idea that they were solely symbolic decorations.