
Modifying the body is not, by any means, a new phenomenon and tattoos are among some of the oldest forms of bodily adornment. The content, application, and ascribed meanings within the practice of tattooing can vary widely depending on the geography and culture. Within Kurdish culture, this centuries-old practice is known as deq or xal. Its importance lies in associating bodies with cultural identity as it has historically been a critical signifier of Kurdish cultural embodiment which Ahmet Yavuklu highlights in his book, Ancient Footprints.