A long-established cultural practice with roots in Aboriginal Australia, Africa, and Papua New Guinea, scarification is gaining new adherents, as body modifications such as piercing become widely accepted. Scarification is the practice of making precise cuts to the body to create scars in a desired pattern. This book explores the cultural history of scarification, ranging from initiation rituals to commemoration of the dead, and introduces readers to today's scarification trends and techniques.

An ancient practice making new marks -- Cutting-edge body art -- Fire and ice -- Regulations, risks, and reversals -- Modern primitives.