Archive · 29 May 2025
800-Year-Old Mummy Reveals Unusual Mineral Tattoos
Scientists have discovered ancient tattoos on an 800-year-old mummy.
These tattoos, found on her face and wrist, are simple lines and shapes.
Unlike other ancient tattoos, they're not made of charcoal.
Instead, the ink is made of special minerals called magnetite and augite.
These minerals are found together in southern Peru, which is a possible place where the woman lived.
This discovery gives us a peek into how people decorated their bodies a long time ago, using minerals to create lasting art on their skin.
An 800-year-old mummy from the Italian Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography has revealed unusual facial tattoos.
The minimalist tattoos consist of three lines on the right cheek and one on the left.
An S-shape tattoo was also found on the mummy's right wrist.
The tattoos were made with magnetite, an iron oxide mineral, and traces of augite.
The discovery suggests a potential origin in southern Peru, where the minerals can be found together.
- Who
- A female mummy, approximately 800 years old.
- What
- Unusual facial tattoos made with magnetite and augite were discovered on the mummy.
- When
- The mummy dates back approximately 800 years.
- Where
- The mummy is from the Italian Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography, and the minerals used in the tattoos are found in southern Peru.
- Why
- The tattoos provide insights into ancient body art practices and ink composition.
- Mummy Age
- 800 years old
- Tattoo Location
- Facial and wrist
- Ink Composition
- Magnetite and augite
- Tattoo Style
- Minimalist design
- Museum
- Italian Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography
- Mineral Location
- Southern Peru