In ancient times, the tribal tattoo was used to mark the person being tattooed as a member of a tribe, and in some cases the position of that person in the tribe, such as the North American Indian. In some cultures, the actual process of getting a tattoo was performed at a ritual, for example when the person was coming of age.
Other cultures in Europe would get a tattoo of their family crest, to identify their origins. In some cultures, the location of the tattoo on the body is as important as the tattoo itself, as different locations had different meanings. These days, the location of the tattoo comes down to self expression more than anything else.
The designs were, and are still, commonly linear geometric motifs. The tribal tattoo is traditionally black in color, although this has changed in modern times. The pure black tattoos give a more striking appearance, due to the sharp lines and edging. When color is added the edges become less defined in appearance.
What ever sort of tattoo you want, the most important thing is to get something that has meaning to You. If you have decided to get a certain design, but can't find out the exact meaning of the one you have picked, make sure that it has meaning to you. You can also combine a tribal tattoo with another tattoo design such as an angel, cross, star, butterfly or something else that gives it more meaning to you. That will make it more unique, and make you stand out from the crowd.
Good luck in your serach for your dream tat.
