Lasers Reveal Hidden 1,200-Year-Old Tattoos on Peruvian Mummies!
A groundbreaking study, recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), has revealed intricate tattoos on the mummified remains of individuals from Peru's ancient Chancay culture. Flourishing between 900 and 1470 CE, this civilisation is renowned for its black-and-white ceramics and textiles. However, researchers now have evidence that their tattooing practices were far more elaborate than previously thought, thanks to a cutting-edge technique called laser-stimulated fluorescence (LSF).
Shedding Light on Ancient Body Art
The innovative LSF method has allowed archaeologists to uncover stunning details of tattoos hidden beneath centuries of decay. Michael Pittman, an archaeologist at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and a co-developer of LSF, explained the process:
“Our imaging work involved scanning a laser line back-and-forth over the mummified human remains in a dark room. This phenomenon resulted in the skin emanating a glow, vividly illuminating the concealed intricacies of the original tattoos.”
This technique was applied to over 100 mummies preserved at the Arturo Ruiz Estrada Archaeological Museum in Peru. While not every individual bore tattoos, a few exhibited remarkably detailed designs, including geometric patterns, depictions of animals, and vine-like motifs. Remarkably, the tattoo lines were as fine as 0.1–0.2 millimetres—far thinner than modern tattoo needles can achieve—demonstrating an exceptional level of precision.
Photo Credit: Kaye et al., PNAS (2025)
Tattoos as Symbols of Chancay Culture
The Chancay culture thrived in the coastal valleys of Peru before becoming part of the Inca Empire. Their artistic accomplishments, particularly in ceramics and textiles, are well-documented, but this study places their tattooing traditions on a similar level of complexity and sophistication.
“Tattoos might have been status symbols or spiritual emblems,” suggested Thomas Kaye of the Foundation for Scientific Advancement, who co-developed the LSF technique alongside Pittman.
The detailed imagery and precision of these tattoos suggest they held significant cultural or spiritual importance. Their discovery adds a new dimension to our understanding of Chancay society, highlighting tattoos as an integral part of their artistic expression and possibly their social or ritualistic practices.
A New Era in Tattoo Research
This study also underscores the potential of LSF imaging for archaeology. By illuminating hidden details, this method could help researchers study tattooing traditions across various ancient cultures. As Pittman and his team note:
“LSF has the potential to reveal milestones in human artistic development through the study of other ancient tattoos.”
Looking ahead, the researchers plan to apply this technique to mummies from other parts of the world, aiming to uncover further insights into the global history of tattooing.
The revelations about the Chancay culture not only enrich our understanding of their artistic achievements but also open new doors for exploring how ancient societies used body art to communicate identity, status, and spirituality.