A small Introduction in the History of Body Piercing
Body piercing has been practiced by many peoples all over the world. This habit dates all the way from ancient times. The oldest mummified body discovered so far with an earring is that of Ötzi the Iceman (from about 3300 BC), which was found in an Austrian glacier. The earring measured 7-11mm in diameter.
- Nose piercing has been common in India since the 16th century.
- Tongue piercing was popular with the elite of Aztec and Maya civilization, though it was carried out as part of a blood ritual and such piercings were not intended to be permanent.
- Ancient Mesoamericans wore body jewelry in their ears, noses, and lower lips, and such decorations continue to be popular amongst indigenous peoples in these regions.
Body piecing in modern history
In the United States, it became quite poplar only after the 60′s, when it was adopted by women and men in the hippie and gay communities, and later the punk subculture, they used most body jewelry.
By the 1980s, male ear piercing had become somewhat common in the United States, although men usually only pierced one of their ears. Today, single and multiple piercing of either or both ears is extremely common among Western women, and fairly common among men.
Body piercing is returning to the mainstream of modern Western cultures as attitudes and values change. Piercings that don’t conform to cultural norms – for example, facial piercings or ear piercings for men – can still be considered inappropriate.
While some people consider body modification with Body Jewelry to be a sign of non-conformity, others deride body piercing as trendy. This can at times lead to prejudice or cognitive bias against those with piercings or visible signs of past piercings.
Tags: ancient jewelry, body piercing, earrings, Indian jewelry, jewelry accessories, jewelry on the globe, jewelry trends
March 28th, 2009 at 6:28 am
i personally think that body piercings must be limited to certain body parts like the ears, probably the nose and navel too. but i don’t think the tongue or the eyelids must also have piercings. it just doesn’t look (and feel) right anymore. but then again, to each his own!
December 25th, 2009 at 10:12 am
and who are you to say that a piercing should only be done on “certain” parts? what makes these parts more acceptable than others? because they’re more common? because you think the rest are trashy? a piercing doesn’t define someone. i actually really want my lip pierced but everybody says it doesn’t fit my persona. sorry i’m not the typical “emo slut” that usually has such a piercing. but i want one. it would “feel right.”
March 6th, 2010 at 5:27 am
It’s true that the less common piercings may not “look” right to you, since you are not use to seeing that type of piercing.
However, many of our body piercing customers try to find a unique piercing, just to be different.
Makes life more interesting to have piercings that are not mainstream.
http://www.piercethis2.com by Lisa
November 14th, 2010 at 12:51 pm
hiya getting ma belly done on da 27th nov cn u tell me outta 10 how much it hurtz coz im nt gd wiv needles but wnt this done so badly parents say its ok so yh all on all good x plz tell me how much outta 10 it hurtz fankz xxxxxxxx