About Me

I'm a PhD student researching the role of the archaeological dead in contemporary British society. Think of this as a scrapbook of all the interesting links, snippets of information and random bits and bobs I come across pertaining to death, dying and the dead. Enjoy?!

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    Body Modification Research

    You are being asked to participate in a research project carried out by the Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification (CAHID) at the University of Dundee, Scotland, UK. For this project, we will be collecting images of body modifications to establish a database which may aid in the identification of victims and missing persons, for example in a disaster.

    By collecting a large number of images of tattoos, piercings and other body modifications, not only can we develop a more uniform way of describing those modifications but also establish how individualistic certain body modifications are within a population, social group or age group. For example, when someone is found with a tattoo of a dragon on the lower left leg, the database may be consulted to see how many people have a dragon tattoo on the lower left leg, and more specifically, how many of those have the same dragon tattoo in this location to establish how individualistic this body modification is. This information may help to indicate the identity of a person with more certainty when other (more conclusive) identification data, such as DNA and dental information, are unavailable.

    The images may also be used to develop computerised image enhancement and automated image comparison techniques for body modifications to help in the victim identification process. The latter is useful when a photo of a missing person with a tattoo is available to compare with a number of photos of victims with similar tattoos.The database of images will be used to research and develop aids for the identification of victims in disasters and missing person investigations.

    An amazing project - click the link for further details!

    bodymodificationbible: Young peul girl in Mali tattooing her mouth with needles and henna. Mouth tattoos are very common among the peul / fulani. It is practiced since the puberty of the girls and is restricted to the bottom part of the lip. When the woman is married, the upper part is also tattooed in black. Nowadays it is considered as ornaments, a touch of beauty and a sign of belonging. One of the theories to explain the practice is common for many other African tribes: the tattoo was used to deter slavers looking for unblemished girls. The Fulanis women are tattooed of black on the edge of the mouth. This tattoo is practiced since the puberty for the girls; it is restricted to the bottom part of the lip but, when the woman is married, it must spread to the whole edge.

    bodymodificationbible:

    Young peul girl in Mali tattooing her mouth with needles and henna. Mouth tattoos are very common among the peul / fulani. It is practiced since the puberty of the girls and is restricted to the bottom part of the lip. When the woman is married, the upper part is also tattooed in black. Nowadays it is considered as ornaments, a touch of beauty and a sign of belonging. One of the theories to explain the practice is common for many other African tribes: the tattoo was used to deter slavers looking for unblemished girls.

    The Fulanis women are tattooed of black on the edge of the mouth. This tattoo is practiced since the puberty for the girls; it is restricted to the bottom part of the lip but, when the woman is married, it must spread to the whole edge.

    (via thespianoge)

    With Lady Gaga in the video for 'Born This Way'

    Art with a Pulse: A former freak-show performer, Rick Genest a.k.a.’Zombie Boy’ is now Thierry Mugler’s latest muse and star of Lady Gaga’s music video for Born This Way. Smothered in tattoos that celebrate the decomposition of the human body, you can read an interview with this most intriguing chap here…