Moko Tattoo Meaning and Cultural Background

Moko, or tribal face tattoos, tell the personal stories of people from Maori tribes. Back in the day, they were an important marker of social status, knowledge, and they essentially told the life story of the person wearing them. To create a Moko, they used a tool called the uhi, made from the bone of an albatross. The process involved hitting the bone tool with a hammer to inject ink and this way, the Moko healed in grooves on the skin. By the late 1800s, needles replaced the bone tools, making the process quicker and safer.