History of Ear Gauging in Tribal Civilizations

A study of the history of ear gauging shows the practice of being as old as recorded human history. For males, this form of ear piercing has been a symbol of status, while for women, as well as means of bodily decoration, it has been used to signify the attainment of womanhood.

Ear gauging It is also referred to as stretching the ear piercing. It is a form of body enhancement or beautification. However, this is not a modern form of body piercing, since it has existed as long as archaeological records exist.

In many cases, ear gauging has historically been used to indicate the standing of members of a specific tribe, and many respects this is still the situation today. Stretched piercings have been, and still are, a reflection on the individual's sexual capability and thus their superiority over other times in the tribe.

Otzi the Iceman is a prime example of mummies known to have stretched ears. Otzi having 7-11 mm ear piercings during 3300 BC. It has been suggested that Siddhartha Gautama, better known as Buddha, is the supporter of this myth.

It is supported, however, by the fact that the Masai tribe of Kenya and the Lahu and Karen-Paduang people of Thailand use this 'gravity' technique to stretch their piercings.

A. Mursi Tribal Women

The Mursi is on Ethiopian tribe where they are in their gauged ears and on their bottom lip. Mursi girl's lip gets pierced by her mother and a wooden peg is pushed through the incision.

Once healed, the peg is changed for a larger diameter one. Eventually, the peg is replaced by a plate of clay or wood, and this plate is successively changed from 8 to 22 cm in diameter (3 to 9 inches). Once these plates have been secured, they receive a higher degree of respect than those without them, and are known as a 'Bhansanai'.

during special occasions such as during weddings and other celebrations, and when they serve food to men. Today, they may or may not follow this tradition.

B. The Masai People of Kenya

The practice of gauging has been common among Masai men and women for thousands of years. Masai women wearing earrings made of stones, cross-cut elephant tusks, wood and animal bones.

The original piercing is taken out using a thorn, sharpened twig or sharp knife point. Once healed, the gauging is done by wearing an increasingly heavy jewelery that pulls the lobe down and stretches the piercing. Masai today wants to use proper ear gauging techniques, as well as their own versions of insertion tapers or taper spikes. Beads are a common form of ornamentation, although plugs made of bone, tusks and wood are also used.

C. The African Fulani Tribe

Fulani women from Nigeria and Central Africa. A Fulani child wants to have her ears pierced at 3 years old, although she may not be stretched until she is older. The gauges used by Fulani women are relatively small compared to the Masai and Mursi, although the jewelery can be larger.

D. Asian Hill Tribes

The various hill tribes are gauging the Lahu from Thailand, and the Karen-Padaung (Longnecks) from Myanmar (Burma) and the Phrae province in Thailand. The latter are the best known for their neck rings, offering the appearance of long necks, but both cultures believe the ear to be sacred and the more jewelery they can wear on the better. By gauging their ears, they are believed to be capable of

E. Mexican and Central American Civilizations

In Mayan and Aztec society, ear gauging was regarded as desirable for males. There are many Mayan representations of men with flares and ear plugs (ear spools) in gauged ears, and the material used was indicative of the social standing of the wearer. Jade ear plugs were worn by the higher classes, while the rest would use bone, stone, wood and other materials. In central Mexico, the craftsmanship of the Aztecs is evident in the ear gauging plugs and ornaments of gold and silver, though the lower classes would adorn their stretches with many other imaginative materials.

Japan, where the Ainu used ear jewelery made from shells, bone and a ball and ring known as Ninkari, has been published worldwide, and among other notable areas involved in this practice. There are many other cultures worldwide where they have their own personality and individuality.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by Mark Z Wilson

