8 Mar 2019

Aust researchers discover world's oldest tattooing kit

From Afternoons, 1:43 pm on 8 March 2019

Researchers at Australia's Griffith University have carbon-dated an ancient tattooing kit, discovering it's at least 2,700 years old - the oldest in known existence.

Rodney Powell is a Hawaii-based Tongan tattoo artist and expert who's been studying the art for more than 20 years.

He joins us to talk about the significance of the discovery, and how and what artists would've been creating all those years ago.

Ancient Tongan tattooing kit

Ancient Tongan tattooing kit Photo: W. Ambrose/Griffith University

Get the RNZ app

for easy access to all your favourite programmes

Subscribe to Afternoons

Podcast (MP3) Oggcast (Vorbis)