2025/07/31 by Gino Caspari, Aaron Deter-Wolf, Daniel Riday +2 · 1 voice
Arts and Humanities · Earth and Planetary Sciences · #Archaeological Research and Protection #Archaeology and ancient environmental studies #Artificial intelligence #Computer science #Conservation Techniques and Studies #Geology #History #Infrared #Optics #Physics #Remote sensing #Resolution (logic)
paper · pdf · doi:10.15184/aqy.2025.10150
openalex publication_date 2025/07/31 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
The tattoos of the Pazyryk ice mummies are of paramount importance for the archaeology of Iron Age Siberia and are often discussed from a broad stylistic and symbolic perspective. However, deeper investigations into this cultural practice were hindered by the inaccessibility of quality data. Here, the authors use high-resolution, near-infrared data in conjunction with experimental evidence to re-examine the tools and techniques employed in Early Iron Age tattooing. The high-quality data allow for the previously unfeasible distinction of artist hands and enable us to put the individual back into the picture of a widespread but rarely preserved prehistoric practice.