Scottish Battle Markings Tattoo Search Help.
Scottish family war markings and battle insignia.
War tattoos.
Sometimes dressing in nought much and trying to look already dead with woad. (Blue war paint for scare tactics)
A woad wearing
Warrior Scotsman
It would often be the done thing to have your family battle arms on yourself to identify you as friend or foe.
Usually family tartan cloth patterns, or a special broach just for the occasion.
Occasionally, indviduals would sport a family battle arms tattoo on each arm and leg, and the back of their heid's,
and maybe on their backs as well.
This came in handy in case you happened to meet someone bigger than you with a bigger claymore than yours,
and you ended up getting chopped into little pieces.
Not wanting to be a burden on anyone, silver buttons or some other form of payment for a funeral or burial,
were carried by warriors, should they fall, ensuring a decent departure.
If a tunic was worn, it would usually have silver buttons on the cuffs.
If there were no silver buttons, a skean dhu (Gaelic Sgian Dubh)
(small dagger with jewells in the handle sometimes called a dirk),would be sought.
It was the done thing to bury the fallen with honour,
and take their final payment for the service provided.
The tattoos ensured all the various severed limbs on a battled field could be assigned to the original owners,
and not be mixed up, (nightmare of nightmares), with some enemy bits.
Now, armed with that knowledge, just in case you're in here looking for you're families battle arms.
In honour of those that went before us, and made us what we are.
Go to the Scotclans website and find your family, then look through their shop items, especially the kilt pins.
Scotclans family search
You will see some that have weapons in the design and behind them,
making them different in appearance to the normal, 'civvy' version of your families coat of arms.
That's it, that's the design your ancestors wore into battle,
and or is the current version as approved by the Scottish Clan Chiefs for use in battle.
Clan Items
If you already have one, email me a pic.
If you found this helpful at all, and end up getting it in ink. Email me a pic, I will, put it on this page.
If you have any other information on family marks from anywhere on Earth.
Please mail me with the info.
The original inhabitants of Hawaii and other Pacific islanders, were legend for their war tattoos.
Hawaiian tattoos
Polynesian tattoos
Warrior tattoos
I will expand and place info and photos here as it comes.
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( UPDATED: August 8 2009 )
