800-Year-Old Mummy Reveals Unusual Facial Tattoos Made from Rare Minerals

A newly analysed 800-year-old female mummy has surprised researchers with minimalist facial tattoos made from unusual mineral-based ink. Unlike the elaborate designs typically found in Andean mummies, this woman’s tattoos were composed of simple lines and an S-shape, made from magnetite and augite. Discovered in the Italian Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography, the mummy’s ink composition and tattoo placement may indicate distinct cultural significance or geographic origins in southern Peru. Published in the Journal of Cultural Heritage, this discovery broadens our understanding of ancient South American body art practices.