Raven Rowanchilde

In the following selection, writer Raven Rowanchilde traces various types of body piercings from their ancient roots to their modern popularity. Rowanchilde writes that the piercing of certain body parts, such as the ear, developed from relatively benign cultural myths and rituals, while others, such as the foreskin of the penis, evolved from mere practical contrivances into adornments. Rowanchilde is cofounder of the Urban Primitive Design Studio, a body art establishment in Toronto, Canada.

EAR PIERCINGS ARE THE MOST WIDELY PRACticed piercings among cultural groups in Africa, India, Indonesia, and North and South America. Pre—industrial societies ritualized ear piercing to mark the life stages of an individual and to signify group affiliation. Ear cartilage piercings, especially popular among the Masai and Fulani, also emphasized beauty and wealth. Stretched earlobes predominate among groups in Indonesia and...