Tattoos are widely considered mankind's oldest form of cultural expression. Early tattooing as it is done today is performed by inserting inert pigment in to the skin to create a desired image. The motivations for receiving a tattoo vary greatly through cultural and individual morays and boundaries. Tattooing can be done for religious ceremonies or as a coming of age ritual. Tribes both ancient and contemporary would create tribal tattoo patterns signifying one's place in society through specific tattoo imagery and tattoo designs.
