Brown Bag Lunch Series: A Brief Overview of Body Modification and Tattoos

All cultures practice some type of body modification, be it body painting, piercing, tattooing, scarring or re-shaping. In many cultures, body modification is done to indicate social position, family affiliation, marital status, identify with a particular ethnic or gender group, perform a rite of passage, ward off or invoke the spirits, or to transfer information. In this presentation, Dr. Diaz-Granados, Archaeologists and Research Associate in the Department of Anthropology, Washington University, explores body art and body modification in several world cultures focusing in on a selection of American Indian cultures.

Bring your lunch or purchase one at The Museum Grill. Reservations are not required. Free admission to the Brown Bag presentation and The Museum Grill.

To view the 2022 Spring Brown Bags Virtually please Register.