According this TED-Ed video, tattooed mummies are evidence that this has been going on for a long time, and — without laser removal — they do last forever.
According to the video if you have a tattoo, you’re part of a rich cultural history that dates back at least 8,000 years. Where did this practice of body modification come from, and how has its function changed over time? Addison Anderson tracks the history of getting inked.
From criminals and outcasts in Japan to the Jews of Auschwitz, tattoos have weaved their way into all sorts of cultures and associations. So before you go and get one, make sure to watch the video and get some context.
