Lasers reveal hidden patterns in tattoos of 1,200-year-old Peru mummies

May Be Interested In:England send shockwaves through the Six Nations by beating France


A new laser-based technique has revealed the intricate details of tattoos on centuries-old mummies in Peru, archaeologists report in a new study. However, not everyone is convinced that the new technique is better than existing methods for analyzing historical tattoos.

In the study, published Monday (Jan. 13) in the journal PNAS, researchers looked at more than 100 mummified human remains from the Chancay culture, which inhabited Peru from about A.D. 900 to 1533. “Only 3 of these individuals were found to have high-detailed tattoos made up of fine lines only 0.1 – 0.2 mm [0.004 to 0.008 inch] thick, which could only be seen with our new technique,” study co-author Michael Pittman, a paleobiologist at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, told Live Science in an email.

share Share facebook pinterest whatsapp x print

Similar Content

Marc de La Bruyere
‘We’re going to lose Jasper’: Town pleads with Stephen Guilbeault to fast-track recovery 
A love letter to Patmos: the most serene of all the Greek islands
A love letter to Patmos: the most serene of all the Greek islands
Denver Nuggets vs. Houston Rockets: How to watch online, live stream info, start time, TV channel
Denver Nuggets vs. Houston Rockets: How to watch online, live stream info, start time, TV channel
2025 Predictions: Cloud Architectures, Cost Management and Hybrid By Design
2025 Predictions: Cloud Architectures, Cost Management and Hybrid By Design
Former president Donald Trump holding a microphone in front of a crowd.
Trump’s Military Is a Disaster Waiting to Happen
Star Wars legend Angus MacInnes dies as tributes flood in for Gold Leader
Star Wars legend Angus MacInnes dies as tributes flood in for Gold Leader
News of the Moment: Keeping You Informed | © 2025 | Daily News