The team from the Micronesian Regional Research Center at the University of Guam (Mangilao, USA) believes that 4,800 years ago, ancient Asians were removing healthy teeth for the sake of beauty. But there were other reasons as well.
What Did the Scientists Reveal?
Now, researchers have a better understanding of why ritual tooth removal was practiced in ancient Taiwan and other parts of Asia. It’s not simply because the teeth were in bad condition.
While the removal of healthy teeth in ancient tribes has been documented worldwide, this practice is primarily associated with the early Austronesian communities that inhabited present-day Taiwan, Southeast Asia, and Polynesia.
This painful procedure was introduced around 4,800 years ago during the Neolithic period. The strange practice continued until the early 20th century, as noted by the team in an article for the journal Archaeological Research in Asia.
The operation involved the extraction of completely healthy teeth, including incisors and canines, without anesthesia. The cavities were then filled with ash to stop the bleeding and prevent inflammation, according to Live Science.
By gathering data from over 250 archaeological sites across Asia, researchers found 47 sites with burials of individuals who had missing teeth. These burials span a long period from the Neolithic era (4,800–2,400 years ago) to the Iron Age (2,400–400 years ago).
The team noted that the practice of extracting healthy teeth was equally popular among men and women. However, by the early 20th century, it became more common among women. Interestingly, the desire to remove healthy teeth was not limited to adults; children also sought this procedure.
Why Did They Do It?
The primary reason people subjected themselves to this procedure was cosmetic: as the researchers put it, “aesthetic expression.”
“The first motivation—self-adornment—stemmed from a desire to stand out and enhance personal attractiveness, particularly to the opposite sex,” the authors of the study explained. They also added that in ancient times, a bright red tongue peeking through the gaps between teeth was considered a sign of beauty.
The second reason was “a test of courage,” the scientists reported. Additionally, “locals believed that tooth removal could lessen the pain of tattooing or ease difficulties in speech,” the authors noted.
According to them, “in many cases, the visible result was seen as proof of bravery or a measure of maturity.”
There was also a medical reason. Ethnological records from Borneo and historical notes from southwestern China indicated that if a person had tetanus, they were given food and medicine through the gaps between their teeth.