Archaeologists have discovered a 2,200-year-old grave in China that contains the remains of a woman whose teeth were painted with cinnabar, a toxic red substance made of mercury and sulfur. The find is significant because it is the first time cinnabar has been found on human teeth.
The cemetery was excavated in Turpan City, in northwestern China, where archaeologists concluded that the deceased were members of the Gushi people culture. The Subeixi culture flourished in the region nearly 3,000 years ago and followed a horse riding pastoralist lifestyle.
One of the graves held the remains of four individuals, including a juvenile. However, one adult skeleton stood out because its teeth had traces of red pigment. An anatomical analysis revealed that this individual was female and died between the ages of 20 and 25.
Researchers scraped off a sample of the red pigment and studied it with three different spectroscopy methods to determine its composition. The analysis confirmed that the pigment was cinnabar, which had been mixed with an animal protein to make it paintable on teeth.
The team nicknamed the woman the “Red Princess of the Silk Road” due to the similarities between her case and a 7th-century Maya aristocrat whose corpse was covered in cinnabar powder. The discovery highlights that cinnabar was mined and traded along the Silk Road, with China and Europe being significant producers and consumers.
While it is unknown why the woman’s teeth were painted red, experts speculate that it may have been related to cosmetic enhancements, social status, or shamanism. Inhaling fine particles of cinnabar during its application process can cause harmful neurological effects, according to the World Health Organization. However, surprisingly, no evidence of mercury poisoning was detected in her bones despite possible repeated exposure.
Source: https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/2-200-year-old-grave-in-china-contains-red-princess-of-the-silk-road-whose-teeth-were-painted-with-a-toxic-substance