Perhaps most compelling, though, is that tattoo techniques could prove useful for interacting with our immune system more directly. Presently, most vaccines are injected deep into the muscle.

In their study, published in the European Journal of Archaeology, the group compared ancient tattooing techniques on modern skin with tattoos on Ötzi's skin. Ötzi the Iceman was found in the ...

The team tattooed Riday using eight different tools and four tattooing techniques in the same exact designs as found on Ötzi.