Documenting Traditional Tattooing (Intangible Heritage in Danger)
Traditional tattooing in Iraq is an ancient art and cultural heritage dating back thousands of years. Women have used it as a means of beautification, treatment, and identification of their tribal identity. The Traditional Tattoo Documentation Project, undertaken by Dr. Angham Salim al-Dulaimi in collaboration with the Cultural Protection Fund (CPF) and in partnership with the TARII International Academic Research Institute in Iraq, is an attempt to preserve this endangered intangible heritage. It represents a significant step toward integrating intangible heritage into academic research and documentation. This project aims to collect and document the symbols, meanings, and stories associated with the art of folk tattooing, particularly among women in the central and southern regions of Iraq, and to collect field data through fieldwork. The project focuses on analyzing this data, documenting the results, and publishing them in academic studies. It contributes to saving this tradition from oblivion in light of rapid social and cultural transformations. It also raises awareness of the importance of preserving intangible cultural heritage, representing an important step toward integrating intangible heritage into academic studies. #Almustaqbal University is the first among private universities in Iraq