When the ice man named Ötzi was found in the Alps in 1991, researchers found that there could be tattoos on the skin, but their dark mummified surface did not allow them to identify those marks. According to the latest scanners carried out, Ötzi had a total of 61 tattoos distributed in different parts of his bodies. Most are parallel streaks, made with carbon rubbed on the incisions.

Thanks to the scanners developed by the experts of the Archaeological Museum of South Tyrol, it has been confirmed that 5,300 years ago the practice of tattoos was a widespread practice. In addition, another debate has been opened. Experts believe that these tattoos may be the result of acupuncture techniques of some kind. The oldest acupuncture test found so far is China, which is about 3,000 years old. If Ötzi's tattoos hypothesis is confirmed, the origin of acupuncture will shrink for 2,000 years.