Celtic tattooing
These are designs that ancient Celtic warriors placed on their armor and shields as a symbol of protection. The last Celtic design element is Shield Knots. Zoomorphic tattoo designs, however, use animals body parts, usually the heads of the animals. These are very similar in construction to normal knot work. The second design element is Zoomorphic tattoo designs. Celtic knot tattoos are usually loops with no end or beginning symbolizing the never ending cycle of death and rebirth. Designs from tattoo stencil machine ancient stone and metal work are more likely to be from the same time period as Celtic tattooing. This is a much later time period than the height of Celtic tattooing. Most of Celtic tattoo designs are taken from the Irish Illuminated Manuscripts The Book of Kells, which is on display in the library of Trinity College in Dublin, my home town.