In an extremely rare discovery, scientists in Sudan have found a Christian tattoo on a 1,300-year-old mummified leg.
The owner of the tattoo was buried in the Ghazali Monastery, located 15 kilometers from the banks of the Nile in Northern Sudan, and was most likely one of the monks who lived in the community.
Archaeologists from Purdue University inadvertently discovered the foot tattoo, which appears to depict symbols referencing the name of Jesus Christ.
This is only the second example of a tattoo discovered in medieval Sudan, which was then part of the Nubian kingdoms.
Dr. Robert Stark, who is leading the bioarchaeological study of the Ghazali remains, told MailOnline that this was a private tattoo that may have been intended to mark a spiritual journey.
In an extremely rare discovery, scientists in Sudan have found a Christian tattoo on a 1,300-year-old mummified leg
Full-spectrum photography and photo editing tools allowed researcher Kari Guilbault to reveal the clear details of Christian symbolism
The tattoo contains a symbol called ‘Christogram’, which combines the Greek letters ‘chi’ and ‘rho’ to create a monogram that is an abbreviation for the name of Christ.
It also contains the letters alpha and omega – the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet – which represent the Christian belief that God is the beginning and end of all things.
Dr. Stark says these symbols have long been used to represent the Christian faith, with the alpha and omega appearing around 300 AD. were introduced by the Roman Emperor Constantine.
He adds that the orientation of the tattoo meant it was designed to be viewed by the individual, indicating a personal rather than public meaning.
The location on the base may be a reference to the crucifixion of Christ, or as a symbol of a spiritual journey.
Kari Guilbault, a PhD candidate at Purdue, made the discovery by chance while photographing the remains.
Although Ms Guilbault is a specialist in medieval tattooing practices, she did not examine the remains for possible tattoos and told MailOnline that the find was ‘completely coincidental’.
Ghazali Monastery was an important religious site for the Christian Nubian kingdoms between the 7th and 13th centuries CE
Ghazali Monastery is located 15 km from the banks of the Nile in Northern Sudan
While unwrapping the leg, Ms. Guilbault noticed a mark on the foot, which her previous experience suggested could be a tattoo.
Using full-spectrum photography and specialized image editing software originally developed for studying cave paintings, Ms. Guilbault was able to reveal the tattoo in stunning detail.
As only the second medieval Nubian tattoo ever discovered, it offers some fascinating insights into the tattooing practices of the time.
Earlier tattoos from the region, according to Ms. Guilbault, used the “dot and dash” technique and consisted mainly of geometric or floral motifs.
However, both tattoos from the Middle Ages are of religious symbols and have much more consistent, straight lines.
This tattoo also destroys the theory that only women were tattooed in medieval Nubia, as this is the first tattoo ever found on male remains.
The only other medieval Nubian tattoo was a monogram of Saint Michael, found on the inner thigh of a woman.
“One of the big questions is how can we tell that someone is religious and this is one of those tangible characteristics of their Christian faith,” Ms Guilbault told MailOnline.
“This is a very beautiful example of how a person’s faith became part of his life and body.”
It may come as a surprise that this little tattoo has survived over a thousand years and is still recognizable today.
Because tattoo ink is perceived by the body as a foreign substance under the skin, it will be broken down over time by the body’s natural defenses.
However, once the body dies, this breakdown is paused, meaning the tattoo is preserved for as long as the body can remain, Dr. Stark explains.
Although the Nubians did not practice deliberate mummification, the arid conditions in Sudan mean that many of Ghazali’s remains were mummified naturally.
The tattooed leg is part of a complete set of remains that are only partially mummified from the knees down.
Unfortunately, the fragile nature of these remains makes it impossible to determine what the tattoo’s ink consists of, as taking a sample would destroy its integrity.
However, it is speculated that the earliest tattoos in human history may have used a carbon-based pigment such as charcoal in a vehicle such as water, animal fat, or even breast milk.