Dental Calculus Reveals Diverse Diet of 1600s Osaka Residents

Osaka residents ate dozens of species in the 1600s, evidence stayed in teeth

Teeth unearthed in Osaka have unveiled a diverse dietary landscape of commoners, revealing that their dental calculus held traces of proteins from fish, mammals, and plants. This discovery suggests that they enjoyed access to a variety of foods, including terrestrial meats, thanks to Osaka's strategic position as a distribution center. This research provides a rare window into the food culture and accessibility of premodern Japan.

By TOI World Desk