Face Tattoo

Matsés woman displaying her typical face tattoos. Previously, almost all Amazonian Indian tribes had facial tattoos that were unique for each indigenous group. Similarly, most groups had unique facial ornamentation often consisting of piercings and the insertion of various ornaments. With the encroachment of western societies, fewer and fewer Amazonian Indians are being tattooed, representing a cultural loss of identity. The Matsés, however, have managed to maintain their cultural traditions more than any other tribe in the Peruvian Amazon.

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