Page "The New World (2005 film)" Paragraph 47

Wingfield is shown being shot by the settlers, but in reality he lived until 1630 and wrote several books on Jamestown.

In one scene, Farrell's shoulder and chest are shown with tattoos.

This is inaccurate.

The practice of tattooing died out in Europe after pagan tribes converted to Christianity.

The West did not readopt the practice until after British explorers encountered tattooed Polynesians in the late 18th century.

It is likely that the historical Smith had no tattoos, and that no one bothered to cover up Farrell's own tattoos.

However had Smith gotten the tattoos from the natives this would have been historically accurate: French soldiers, for example, often bore tattoos of local tribes they were allied with in order to strengthen ties.