Tattoos have been said to be an ancient art form dating as far back as 3,000 BC.

Women from pre-Ice Age times were typically found with tattoos on their thighs and were thought to be "dancing girls"...or women of dubious backgrounds. Also, some were found with elaborate inkings on their thighs, abdomen and breasts suggesting a flowering type insignia/design that would expand during childbirth and would suggest that these inkings were applied much later during pregnancy.

There are some theories from evidence observed of Ice Age mummified corpses, that suggest tattooing of that era may have been for therapeutic purposes, specifically to alleviate (arthritic) pain.

Facial tattoos were discovered in native North Americans in about the th century and were thought to be applied to highlight facial features.

Probably, the most widely known (and longest enduring) of tattoos come from Samoan and African natives and are widely considered art/artform...as well as images of tribal status.

Of course, the last few decades has seen the introduction of a lot more color (and much more elaborate designs with much improved application techniques) into body tattoos.

Excluding the obvious markings/identification to gang affiliations, what are your thoughts on modern tattoos?