Tattooing has been around since before ancient Egypt, roughly 2000 years, BEFORE the pyramids were built. The Mayans were known to have tattoos, as were the Aztecs and Incas. The ancient Polynesians are thought to be the most responsible for the distribution of tattooing. However, the first known tattooed man was Iceman. He was found in the Australian Alps about 5,300 years ago. He was believed to have 57 tattoos for treatment of arthritis in his ankles, knees, and lower back.

Other early tattooing culture were: Greeks ,Egyptians, Nubians, Germans, Gauls, the Tharcians, and the British.

Tattooing also ties in with religious beliefs. Some religions use tattooing as a sign of maturity. Some think it to be mutalation to the human body. Such as in the ancient Catholic religion, when young men and women reached puberty,they were tattooed. In the Christian religion, however, they see it as a mutalation of the body. Many Christians view it as a sin.

Modern tattooing is created by injecting ink into the skin. Injections are done by a needle attached to a hand- held tool. The tool moves up and down at a rate of several hundred vibrations per minute and penetrates the skin by about one millimeter.