We tend to think as tattoos as a relatively new cultural phenomenon — but actually, that’s not at all true. In fact, scientists have discovered at least one generously tattooed iceman, dating from the fourth to fifth millennium BC. So we’d say the practice has been around for quite a while. But that doesn’t make it any less fun to look at these vintage photographs of tattooed ladies, proudly showing off their ink in an age when — if not exactly new — the practice was definitely not as accepted as it is today. Inspired by this post over at Juztapoz, click through to check out our gallery of a few of the tattooed ladies who paved the way for the rest of us.

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Irma Senta. Image via.

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Cindy Ray. Image via.

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Betty Broadbent. Image via.

Cindy Ray. Image via.

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