An Evaluation of Alternative Explanations for Cross-Cultural Variance in Polynesian Tattooing Traditions

Tattooing has been integral to many belief systems and cultures for thousands of years. Unsurprisingly, scholars have been interested in what factors influenced the widespread growth and adoption of this practice. Some hypotheses include that tattooing legitimized social hierarchies, signaled group membership or mate quality, and eased living in warm climates by reducing sweating. However, these claims have not been subject to rigorous cross-cultural tests. Here, we propose a study to test these hypotheses by applying phylogenetic methods to a geographically and socially diverse case study of Polynesian cultures. This research will help us understand why individuals in the past and today risk severe health risks to painstakingly carve tattoos into their bodies.

Faculty Supervisor:

Mark Collard

Student:

Partner:

Durham University

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Education

University:

Simon Fraser University

Program: