Intricate details of tattoos on centuries-old mummies in Peru have been revealed by a new laser-based technique, archaeologists say in a new study.
According to Live ScienceHowever, not everyone thinks the new technique is better than existing methods of analyzing historical tattoos.
Researchers looked at more than 100 mummified human remains from the Chanqui culture, which inhabited Peru from about 900 to 1533, in the study, which was published Monday (Jan. 13) in the journal PNAS.
“Only 3 of these individuals were found to have highly detailed tattoos made up of fine lines of only 0.1 – 0.2 mm. [0.004 to 0.008 inch] fat, which can only be seen with our new technique,” said study co-author Michael Pittman, a biologist at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Live Science.
The technique involves laser-stimulated fluorescence (LSF). LSF produces images based on the fluorescence of the sample, thereby revealing details that may be missed by simple ultraviolet (UV) light examination.
It works by turning the tattooed skin bright white, allowing the carbon-based black tattoo ink to stand out clearly.
Moreover, it almost completely eliminates the problem of tattoo bleeding and fading over time, which according to research can obscure the design.
Pittman said the three highly detailed tattoos the team revealed on the mummified remains were “primarily geometric patterns consisting of triangles. were included, which are also found on other Chanke artistic media such as pottery and textiles,” Pittman said, while other Chanke tattoos I included grapes and animals. Design