Tribal tattoos go back to ancient times when almost every culture used tattooing - the oldest being that of a Bronze Age warrior who lived more than five thousand years ago. People like the Celts, the Aztecs, the ancient Egyptians and others all used tattoos for different reasons. Sometimes tattoos were purely for personal adornment, to denote rank, or as a way of proclaiming oneself as a member of a certain tribe - sometimes tattoos had religious significance and often temporary tattooing was used during times of war. Many African tribes would use this type of tattooing to make themselves appear more frightening to their enemies.
Tribal art tattooing is becoming something of a modern phenomenon as they are among the most requested designs around. Almost everyone seems to have heard of tribal tattoos and they want the bold, often black outlined designs tattooed on their bodies. Tribal designs often depict animals or birds, whatever seemed important to the ancient mind. Even now, tribal tattoos are not just a matter of adornment; they are most often a personal statement about who a person is and what they are like. African and Pacific Island tribes created the most distinctive tattoo designs - many of them reflecting the world that these people inhabited. Much tribal tattooing was facial and in some parts of the world these facial tattoos are most often used as a reminder of a person's tribal or family history. New Zealand Maoris in particular use this type of facial tattooing and their tattoos are usually quite distinctive.
