Hi CTD, (((( Smiles ))))

You are right, it could have been done out of respect/reverence or even it could have been a pagan ritual of sorts which could also go much further than that in just the defacing of our bodies and the warning does go like you said..
And you shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead; and you shall not put on yourself any writing or mark; I am Jehovah.
But also as there are Scriptures surrounding that that do talk about conjuring spirits and seeking to spiritists and being defiled by them... they could also have been defiling themselves by a pagan ritual of spiritualism akin to a kind of satanic ritual of pagan origin.
I think what that site was trying to say is there are parallels and links of meaning all throughout the Bible and God has His mark and Satan has his as well.
The mark of Cain was a mark put on him by God and as Satan always tries to imitate what God does the warning of certain marks not from God could have been a part of that warning as well.
The Mark of Cain the Mark of the Dead and then the Mark of the Beast to come, as links and parallels in Scripture.
I think that webpage was pointing out in that type of meaning of it.
But still God does not want us to take a mark unless from Him.
I have this DVD set of Jesus throughout the Bible and there does seem to be lots of parallel themes in the Scriptures.
I know you've seen that too as you are well versed in the Bible and on the Evolution thing.
The link to that webpage was just food for thought but yes..
You are right too.. ((((( Smiles )))))