Researchers have uncovered two burins, cutting tools used
for engraving, from Actun Uayazaba Kab cave in Belize. The cave is a notable
Mayan archaeological site. Besides skeletons, items unearthed from the cave
include ceramics and stoneware.
Among the Mayans, stone burins were used for multiple activities
including blood letting and drilling hard materials such as shells and bones.
However, the wear analysis suggested that the burins were not used for that
purpose. Additionally, traces of black residue were observed on the burins.
Researchers suggested that the black traces might be left-over ink and the
burins might have been used for tattooing.
To prove this hypothesis, replica burin was produced and
used to tattoo pig skin. The replica had similar wear to the unearthed burins,
strengthening the hypothesis.
If the hypothesis is true, the burins would be the first discovered
Mayan tattooing tools.
The research was published in Journal of Archaeological Sciences.
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