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538 - Why Did Ancient Vietnamese Warriors Paint Their Teeth BLACK? - Nam C Kim
Why did ancient Vietnamese communities dye their teeth black—and what did it mean about their identity, beauty, and survival?
In this episode, Ken reunites with Columbia University archaeologist Prof. Nam C. Kim to explore the history, science, and cultural evolution of tooth blackening (nhuộm răng đen) in ancient and modern Vietnam.
Joined by special guest artist and tattoo historian Andy Hori Tran, Kenneth and Nam examine recent archaeological studies analyzing human remains from the 2,000-year-old Đông Sơn culture. They break down the traditional recipes involving iron salts and gallnuts…
The skinny
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