Mentawai Tattoos, Tattoos World's oldest

On the second day in the Mentawai, I and Anti the opportunity to visit the house of one of the Mentawai Tribe. Previously, we had read and heard stories about the Mentawai tribe and its culture are preserved.  

This time, we want to meet directly and see what daily life on the island of Siberut Mentawai Tribe.
Using a motorized boat, we traveled about forty of Muara Siberut to reach the nearest village. We headed upstream Gereget River is wide and calm water. On both sides there are mangrove forests and lush sago tree. Occasionally we ran into who was climbing the Mentawai Tribe pompong (traditional wooden boat Mentawai).


Then we arrived at the uma (house typical Mentawai) who stood on the riverbank. Mentawai our friend, Tutulu, and his family welcomed while saying, "aloitta?" which means "how are you?". My attention immediately focused on the tattoos that adorn the body of most of the adults who were there, both male and female body.
Amid the chatter, Tutulu and her sister who is a sikerei (shaman culture) and then told me about typical Mentawai tattoo. Tattoos, they called titi, is one part of artistic expression and symbol of the status of people of the Mentawai Tribe. In the past, tattoos are popular among both men and women who have adult Mentawai. Now, only a small tribe who still tattooed Mentawai. Some of them can be found in the interior of Siberut Island.
Tattoos are created by a sipatiti (tattoo maker). Tattooing process take a long time, especially at this stage of preparation that can be up to several months. There are a number of ceremonies and taboos (punen) that must be passed by people who want tattooed. Not everyone can pass this step.

Before sipatiti start making a tattoo, there is a ritual ceremony led by sikerei (traditional Mentawai culture). The host then throw a party with the slaughtering of pigs and chickens. Pork and chicken as well as the wage is given to sikerei. Tutulu ntuk told me that a party makes this tattoo alone could cost about five million rupiah.
Needles used are made from animal bone or a sharpened wooden karai.  

With knock-ngetoknya, creates lines that are the main motive Mentawai tribal tattoos. Dyes were obtained from charcoal stuck to the skillet. Sikerei which is a sister Tutulu say that tattooing usually starts from the palm of the hand, hands, feet and body. Over the past few days, the newly tattooed skin will swell and bleed. Just imagine my horror.

That said, tattoos Mentawai including the world's oldest tattoo art, tattoos and even older than Egypt. Unfortunately, now only a small fraction Mentawai tribes who still defend it. This is due to the Government ban on the development of the teachings of animism in the past. Tattooing is one of the cultural product which is then slowly disappear. Hundreds of tattoo motifs that once graced the Mentawai indigenous people could not even documented. Even Tutulu we knew too, adorn his body with tattoos pictures of flowers and anchor who is obviously not the original motive Mentawai tattoo.
Interested in making a typical Mentawai tattoo?

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