Taino Body Stamps

Did You Know: With hand-crafted clay stamps, Taino people traditionally printed various designs on their bodies or on cotton cloth material. In a process comparable to temporary tattoos or henna-painting, pigments attained from plants such as Bija or Jagua and other natural resources were applied to the Taino stamps. The stamps were then pressed onto the body or cloth, imprinting the beautiful and varied designs. Body stamp designs could represent many concepts. While some designs could have a more traditional meaning among a certain community, others designs could be more of an individual expression. – UCTP Taino News © 2007