Higher castes of Aztecs and Mayans would pierce thier labrets of pure gold. To arouse the men in their tribe, women of the Makololo tribe of Malawi in Africa, would wear plates called 'Pelele' in their upper lip. In the tribe of central Africa and South America would stretch their labret piecings. They'd the stick large wooden or clay plates in them.

Ears were once pierced to distinguish the difference between a poor person and a rich person. Rich person being the one with it pierced. In South American and African tribes would stretch pierced ears. The bigger you stretched your ear the higher your social standing was. In many primitive tribes they believed demons can enter the body through the ear. They would pierce their ears because demons and spirits are suppose to be repelled by metal. Which would prevent them from entering the body. Sailor beleaved that having your ear pierced gave you better eyesight. Also if a sailor were to wash up on shore the ear ring would be able to pay for a christian burial.