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Which communities have used scarification to show status or lineage?
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Body modifications and mutilations
Peruvian elongated skulls, trephined male (left) and intact female (right), c. 1000 bc.
Scarification, or cicatrization, involves creating raised scars through incision or burning to produce decorative patterns. While often practiced for aesthetic reasons, many cultures utilize these marks to signify social status or lineage.1
Historically, this practice has been documented among various groups, including:
- African Communities: Among the Yoruba of Nigeria, scarification is specifically used to indicate lineage affiliation. In the Sudan, Nuba women use scarification patterns to mark physiological status, such as the onset of menstruation or the birth of a first child. The Tiv of Nigeria also practice scarification for its aesthetic value.2
- Global Groups: Scarification has been practiced by many darker-skinned peoples across Africa, as well as by Australian Aborigines, the Maori of New Zealand, and numerous groups throughout Melanesia and New Guinea.1
These modifications serve as permanent visual markers that communicate an individual's identity, history, or social standing within their respective communities.12