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Through studying the history of ear gauging in different cultures and civilizations worldwide, it has been concluded that the practice is at least as old as recorded history, and likely much older. Mummies, statues, old drawings and prehistoric paintings have suggested that ear gauging has been used as a sign of maturity in both men and women, and also of status, particularly with men. It has also been used cosmetically, largely by women.

Ear gauging is a way of stretching the piercing of an earlobe to larger diameters. These diameters can be a lot more than the original piercing, and go up to over an inch and more. It is usually carried out as a fashion statement, and to show that the recipient is 'cool'. It cannot be described as 'modern', because King Tut had his ears stretched, as did Otzi the Iceman - way back in 3300 BC! Many men have had their ears stretched to indicate their virility and sexual capabilities, although this is not as much a reason today as it was many years ago. Today, men have their ears stretched to make a fashion statement, or to follow the example of their favorite pop group. Thousands of years ago, however, the main purpose is believed to be to make a statement, not of fashion, but of stature in the tribe.

Chiefs had the largest stretching plugs, while other male tribe members also used the size of their gauged ears to indicate their standing in the community. For women, this was often a means of adornment but also of signifying their womanhood, having started menstruation.

Spiral Ear Stretcher is used today by both men and women as a means of bodily adornment and to express their individualism just as they were by the ancient Ainu of Japan, or the Dayaks and Berawan of Borneo. There is vast range of ear jewellery available online today that can be used for normal piercings or for ear gauging. By checking this out you can enjoy expressing your own personality on the way you look to others.

Ear gauging can then be carried out the traditional way or the modern way, both being used today in Kenya. Traditionally, the fistula is stretched by wearing heavy jewellery made of stones or heavy beads. The weight stretches the piercing, with the result that the gauge will increase with age. A typical Kenyan woman's earlobe will have a long gauge rather than a neat round hole. Modern methods can also be used, such as insertion tapers that progressively increase the gauging diameter with each size of taper. The type of plugs and decoration used can range from cross-cut elephant tusks and animal bones or horns, to decorative stones, wooden plugs and beaded items.