Seeing the Unseen

Happy World Anthropology Day - let's talk about something truly odd to celebrate!

I decided to save this weeks post for today in honor of World Anthropology Day, woohoo! And I would like to take a moment to share a fun area of overlap between anthropology and another key area of my interests: the paranormal. Remember, this is ODD Anthropology, and I am a ghost hunter-turned anthropology/archaeology student! Why? Because there really is anthropological ways to approach and view virtually every topic, hobby, group, field, community of interest, etc. which can offer new insights and revelations.

It recently occurred to me, while reminiscing on past ghost hunts and having recently researched ancient tattooing practices, that there is a specific technology utilized often by both anthropologists or, more specifically, archaeologists, and those who investigate the paranormal: infrared (IR) lighting technology.

Tune in to any ghost hunting TV show or YouTube channel and you will notice that they are often filming with IR cameras, or “night-vision cameras”. This is, in part, because they tend to investigate paranormal phenomena at night due to less interference from the outside world. However, many within the paranormal field also hypothesize that spirits, ghosts, manifestations, etc. can be more easily visually seen using this lighting technology. (Although I will note that there is no evidence to support this.) That said, there is another group of people (archaeologists) who use IR cameras to see something else not easily seen with the naked eye: tattoos on ancient mummies! Weirdly specific, I know, but it truly is fascinating.

IR Camera being used on a ghost hunt at the Sallie House in Atchison, Kansas. By me, Ivy Boyd.

We have many ancient mummies which, upon first glance, had mere patches of discoloration among their skin. But upon viewing these same mummies with IR cameras/lighting, beautiful and elaborate tattoos suddenly pop out on the camera screen. This is due to the (usually) carbon-based black tattoo ink which absorbs the light - meanwhile, the surrounding un-tattooed skin tends to reflect it back, allowing the ink to really stand out.

The mummy pictured here is Gebelein Man (A) from Egypt - a black splotch on his arm was found to be the first example of figural tattoos!

I hope you enjoyed this fun and unexpected crossover between these two fields: both of which utilize IR lighting to try and “see the unseen”.

Happy World Anthropology Day!

Written by Ivy Boyd: anthropology student and co-creator of Odd Anthropology.