'Macho mummy' has oldest tattoo in the world

london - Scientists have discovered the oldest tattoo in the world on an Egyptian mummy that has been in the British Museum in London for at least a hundred years. The 'spots' on his right arm were always clear to see.

After research with infrared light, it became clear that the spots were once tattoos: a gigantic wild bull and a North African goat-like animal, reports The Independent.

The more than 5000 year old Egyptian appears to have the first found tattoos in the form we know, namely tattoos for ornamental purposes. Thus the gigantic- now extinct- bull was feared and worshiped on his arm and the goat was associated with male fertility. The mummy was probably 'a typical macho', according to the researchers.