Return of the Tribal: A Celebration of Body Adornment
by Rufus C. Camphausen


One body art book that stands the test of time is RETURN OF THE TRIBAL by Rufus C. Camphausen. First published in 1997, this body art overview is still a useful and interesting when compared to all the body art and tattoo books that have been authored since this was first created.

The book has a moderate amount of written content, a mix of informative chapters and detailed photo captions. The pictures are quarter to half page size predominantly with some half page images scattered throughout, offering a peek at everything from body painting to piercing to cicatrization to tattooing to branding and more.

One of the features that makes this such a good reference is the breadth of pictures and notes on scarification. There are many detailed pictures showing different types of African scarification, with notes on which tribes are wearing the designs and for what purposes that culture practices scarification.

You might also enjoy A Brief History of the Evolution of Body Adornment: Ancient Origins and Today or Body Marks: Tattooing, Piercing and Scarification