What do you think about tattoos and piercings? Some people disapprove of tattoos and piercings on their bodies. Some people don't believe in them, because they don't find pleasure in receiving them, or even because they have something against them. That's why in the following readings you will learn more about body modification. Deeper into the positive and negative effects body modification has on you and/or your surroundings. Body modification, or otherwise known as body mutilation, occurs when a person deliberately alters their human anatomy. They do this in numerous ways. But for now we only deal with tattoos, piercings and plastic surgery. For starters, body modifications have been around for numerous years. Which dates back to the Iceman era. The first testimony dates back to an iceman found in the Otzal Alps between Austria and Italy. After carbon-14 dating was carried out on the body, it was proven that in fact the tattoo was done before his death, almost 5,300 years ago. This goes back long before the birth of Jesus Christ! The design on this iceman was said to be merely ornamental, whether for purposes involving magic or even just to declare the social status of the iceman's group or tribe. Even in early ancient times tattoos were popular. Part of the 4th dynasty. At that time tattoos were just getting to the needle stage. What it means is that they were just starting to use it to actually create tattoos. Additionally, they adorned clay dolls with tattoo-like designs, further serving to demonstrate that tattoos actually had meaning in life. From the poorest to the richest, everyone had some type of tattoo. As time went by, the progression of tattoos improved. Early Polynesian era… middle of paper… a way to contract infections and/or diseases. Some people do not react to the metal in jewelry after getting a piercing but after a while develop allergic reactions to it. You may also experience more scarring after having them removed than you wanted or expected. This is because once the piercing is removed, it tends to leave a whole, marks or even scars after healing. Works Cited DeMello, Margo. Inscription Bodies: A Cultural History of the Modern Tattoo Community. Durham and London: Duke University Press, 2000. Print.Ellis, Juniper. Tattooing the World: Pacific Designs in Print and Skin. About Chester, West Sussex: Columbia University Press, 2008. Print.Lloyd, J.D. Body piercing and tattooing. Farmington Hills: Szumski, 2003. PrintPitts, Victoria. The cultural politics of body modification: IN THE FLESH. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2003. Print.