Two Maya tattoo tools discovered in cave.
Archaeologists from universities in the United States and Denmark have uncovered what may be the earliest known Maya tattooing tools. Hidden deep within the Actun Uayazba Kab cave in Belize, the researchers discovered two small stone implements, dating between 250 and 900 AD, believed to have been used to create permanent tattoos.
Crafted from obsidian, the tools have an elongated shape with sharp, pointed tips. They aren’t typical blades or knives; rather, they are carefully modified stone fragments designed for a specific purpose. Under microscopic examination, the tools revealed wear patterns consistent with repeated use on skin, as well as traces of black pigment—likely a carbon-based ink or soot.
These findings are especially significant given the sacred nature of caves in Maya cosmology. Caves were seen as spiritual portals to the underworld, associated with themes like life and death, fertility, rain, sacrifice, and ancestral connections. According to the researchers, the ritual context of the cave suggests that the tools may have been used in tattooing elite individuals or marking significant ceremonial events.
Historical records had long attested to the Maya practice of tattooing. Spanish chroniclers described tattoos as symbols of courage for men and beauty for women, often featuring animals like snakes or eagles, along with sacred glyphs. Tattoos were also used as punishment—branding the faces of thieves. However, until now, no physical tools had been found to support these accounts.
Because the humid climate of the region prevents the preservation of skin, no tattooed remains have survived. These obsidian tools now provide the first tangible evidence of the ancient practice. Experimental testing with modern replicas confirmed that the tools could indeed create tattoos by puncturing the skin and delivering pigment. The specific design and wear patterns also ruled out alternative functions such as carving wood or bone.
“We suggest that the two retouched burins from Actun Uayazba Kab were likely puncture tools used by the ancient Maya to create tattoos,” the researchers concluded.
They also propose that while tattooing may have occurred in caves during ritual contexts, most Classic-period tattoos were likely applied in more accessible locations. Since Spanish chroniclers observed tattooing practices firsthand, it stands to reason that many such events happened near dwellings rather than in remote caves.
The final fate of the tools adds another layer to their story. The archaeologists believe they were intentionally broken in a symbolic “ritual killing” and left as offerings in the cave—a practice consistent with Maya traditions of dedicating significant objects to the gods.
More information: Stemp, W. J., Voorhis, L., Helmke, C., Griffith, C. S., & Awe, J. J. (2025). Two ancient Maya tattooing tools from Actun Uayazba Kab, Roaring Creek Valley, Belize. Journal of Archaeological Science, Reports, 64(105158), 105158. doi:10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105158
Source: La Brújula Verde
