VOA科学技术2025--Researchers Use Lasers to Study Ancient Peruvian Mummies

（单词翻译）

For more than 5,000 years, humans have covered themselves with permanent artistic¹ designs known as tattoos².

In a recent study, researchers used lasers to uncover highly complex designs of ancient tattoos on mummies from Peru.

The skin of the mummies and the black liquid, or ink, used to make the tattoos permitted researchers to observe fine details. These marks are not visible to the human eye, said study co-writer Michael Pittman of the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

The researchers examined around 100 mummies dating to around 775 years ago. The mummies were from coastal³ Peru's Chancay culture, which grew and developed before the Inca empire and the arrival of Europeans.

All the individuals had some form of tattoos on the back of their hands, knuckles⁴, arms or other body parts. The study paid careful attention to four individuals with "exceptional tattoos" - designs of shapes such as triangles and diamonds, said Pittman.

It was not clear how the tattoos were created. But they are "of a quality that stands up against the really good electric tattooing⁵ of today," said Aaron Deter-Wolf of the Tennessee Division of Archaeology⁶. Deter-Wolf was not involved in the research.

The study results appeared recently in the publication Proceedings⁷ of the National Academy of Sciences.

Using lasers that make skin glow, "we basically turn skin into a light bulb," said study co-writer Tom Kaye of the nonprofit Foundation for Scientific Advancement⁸ based in Sierra Vista⁹, Arizona.

The findings were "helpful to learn about new non-destructive technologies that can help us study and document sensitive archaeological materials," such as mummies, said Deter-Wolf.

The oldest known tattoos ever discovered are on the remains¹⁰ of a Neolithic¹¹ man who lived in the Italian Alps around five thousand years ago. Many mummies from ancient Egypt also have tattoos, as do remains from cultures around the world.

People have used tattooing for many reasons throughout history. The marks can show cultural or individual identity, social standing¹², and more. Tattoos also have been used for protection against disease or to deepen relationships with spirits or gods, suggested Lars Krutak. Krutak, who works at the Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe, New Mexico, was not involved in the research.

Designs on ancient textile and stone products are more commonly found in good condition for study than are ancient tattoos. But ancient tattoos when studied can provide information about art forms that would not otherwise be available, suggested Martin Smith of Bournemouth University. Smith was not involved in the recent study.

I'm John Russell.

Christina Larson reported on this story for the Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English.

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Words in This Story

mummy - n. human remains that are in good condition or very well preserved

visible - adj. capable of being seen

exceptional - adj. superior, rare, much better than average

glow - v. to shine as if filled with light

light bulb - n. an electric lamp

textile - n. woven cloth, fibers, or yarn