In China, archaeologists have made an unprecedented discovery: in a 2,200-year-old grave, they found the remains of a woman whose teeth were covered with cinnabar, a bright red mineral containing mercury. This is the first known use of this toxic substance in such a context.
Cinnabar, which is a compound of mercury and sulfur, has been used since antiquity - since the IX millennium BC, it was used in rituals, painting, decorative purposes and even for drawing patterns on the body.
However, no previous examples of tooth staining with this substance have been found, making the find truly unique. The study, published February 24 in Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, documents such a practice for the first time.
"This is the first recorded case of tooth staining with vermilion in both the ancient world and modern history," said lead study author Qian Wang, a professor at Texas A&M University.
The remains of the Red Princess
An unusual burial was found during the excavation of an ancient cemetery near the city of Turpan, located in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China. Judging by the artifacts found in the graves, the buried belonged to the Gusi people, who were part of the Subeisi pastoralist culture. This civilization existed about 3,000 years ago, and its women were distinguished by the fact that they could ride horses and used special saddles.
The cemetery was located on a busy branch of the
Silk Road, and radiocarbon analysis showed that the burial dates to the period 2200-2050 years ago, a time of active trade, including cinnabar.
In one of the graves, scientists found the remains of four people, including a teenager. However, one adult skeleton stood out among them: its teeth were covered with red pigment. Analysis of anatomical features confirmed that it was a young woman who died at the age of 20-25 years.
Interested in this phenomenon, scientists analyzed the substance spectroscopically, applying three different methods of chemical examination. They found that the pigment was cinnabar mixed with animal protein - probably egg yolk or whatever helped to fix it to the teeth.
Photo: livescience.com
Inspired by a similar find from seventh-century Mexico, when a Mayan aristocrat was found covered in cinnabar, researchers dubbed the Turfan woman the "Red Princess of the Silk Road."
The mystery of the origin of cinnabar
One of the main mysteries of the find is the source of cinnabar, because this mineral was not mined in the Xinjiang region. However, historically it was actively traded along the Silk Road, and the largest deposits were located in China, Europe and Western Asia. It is possible that the cinnabar that caused the coloring of the Red Princess' teeth came from Europe or the southwestern regions of China, where it had long been mined.
Why exactly the woman covered her teeth with this substance remains an open question. Lead researcher Qian Wang suggests that it could be related to cosmetic traditions, social status, shamanic rituals, or a combination of these factors.
In favor of the latter is the fact that other mummies with ritual tattoos and patterns on their faces have been found in the same cemetery. It is quite possible that the Red Princess also had unique hairstyles, headdresses or outfits to complement her extravagant image.
Dangerous jewelry
Despite the beauty and mystery of this tradition, the use of cinnabar was extremely dangerous. Co-author of the study, Professor of Geology Li Sun from Collin College (Texas, USA), emphasized the toxicity of the substance: during its preparation and application, the woman and her entourage could inhale mercury vapor or tiny particles of cinnabar, leading to severe neurological effects.
According to the World Health Organization, prolonged exposure to mercury can cause headaches, insomnia, tremors, cognitive as well as movement disorders.
However, despite the potential danger, analysis of the Red Princess's bones showed no signs of chronic mercury poisoning. Scientists assume that either cinnabar was not used for a long time, or its concentration in the body did not reach a critical level.
This discovery sheds light on the ancient cultural traditions of the peoples of Central Asia and their interaction with the great trade routes of antiquity. However, a full understanding of the meaning of this practice requires further research.