People have decorated their bodies with ink for centuries. For many cultures, tattoos have been used as a form of protection from illness, a status symbol, or a way to identify different groups.
It was thought that the Egyptians were the first known people to use tattoos to cover their bodies. Many of the tattoos were found on the bodies and the figurines of women. The women tattooed their body to keep them safe during childbirth. These markings can be found in other cultures as well. _______ the Egyptian tattoos were the first to be discovered, older tattoos were found on an Iceman. That mummy dates back to 5,200 years ago. His markings showed that they were done in order to relieve joint pain.
Tattoos were also used as a way to show a person’s social status. In Scythian culture, tattoos were used to show nobility. Without any tattoos, a Scythian person was known to be of low birth. Greeks and Romans used tattoos as marks of shame. Sometimes, tattoos showed what religious belief a person held or who owned a slave. They were even used to mark prisoners.
The art of tattooing has changed some over the years. _______ it has become a true art form with details that can rival any painting. These tattoos can be anything from a person’s face to an original drawing.
1
Read the following sentence from paragraph 2 of the passage.

_______ the Egyptian tattoos were the first to be discovered, older tattoos were found on an Iceman.

Which linking word or phrase best fits in the blank?
A.
In this case,
B.
Absolutely,
C.
Although
D.
Because