Humans have been fond of decorating and changing their bodies for thousands — if not tens of thousands — of years. Ancient human remains have preserved evidence of various types of body modification. Practices we would recognize today, including tattooing and lip plugging, have been found in 5,000-year-old mummies, while traces of abandoned practices, like foot binding and head shaping, can be seen in skeletons from thousands of years ago.
Just as there are many reasons for modifying one's body nowadays, there were likely many drivers in the past, such as inclusion in a group, expression of one's individuality, and celebration of a life transition.
