3D SCAN / PHOTOGRAPHIC DOCUMENTATION REPORT Template

Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammā-sambuddhassa

The Office of Siridantamahāpalaka

Hswagata Buddha Tooth Relics Preservation Private Museum

Research and Publishing Department

3D SCAN / PHOTOGRAPHIC DOCUMENTATION REPORT

Report ID: HSW-BTR-2026-0001
Date of Documentation: January 15, 2026
Location of Documentation: The Hswagata Buddha Tooth Relics Preservation Private Museum

Researcher – Author:

Sao Dhammasami
Bhikkhu Indasoma Siridantamahāpalaka (Pen Name)
ORCID: 0009-0000-0697-4760
Title: Custodian (Siridantamahāpalaka) of the Buddha Tooth Relics
Affiliation: Founder and Director, Hswagata Buddha Tooth Relics Preservation Private Museum
Office: The Office of Siridantamahāpalaka

Expertise:

Specially trained in Buddhist archaeology and the historical tracking of tooth relics through the stūpa research registry; integrates archaeological charts with travel accounts and museum records to support preservation for study and veneration.

Tooth Identification

Tooth Label in Original Grid	Anatomical Type (estimated)	Likely Position (FDI/Universal)	Estimated Age of Specimen	Condition
1	Canine (probable)	Upper canine (13/23) – estimated (no scale/reference provided)	Unknown (catalogued as Tooth relic specimen)	Well-preserved with moderate surface staining and minor wear

Metric Data

This table shows the metric data visually estimated from the high-resolution photograph or 3D scan approximation.

Measurement	Value
Maximum Length (mesio-distal)	X.XX mm (approx.)
Maximum Height (crown-root)	XX.XX mm (approx.)
Maximum Width (bucco-lingual)	X.XX mm (approx.)
Crown Height	XX.XX mm (approx.)
Root Length (approximate)	XX.XX mm (approx.)
Measurement Method	Visual estimation from high-resolution photograph / 3D scan approximation

Notable Features & Observations

• Elongated, single-rooted morphology consistent with a canine-type tooth.

• Distinct bluish-grey to violet discoloration concentrated toward the coronal third (surface staining or mineral accretion).

• Crown tip appears smoothed/rounded, suggesting mild occlusal/incisal wear.

• Enamel surface shows fine textural irregularities and scattered micro-pitting consistent with age-related abrasion or depositional history.

• Root surface appears intact with no gross fractures visible in this view.

• No obvious cavitation consistent with advanced caries visible from the provided angle (diagnosis limited by single-view photo).

• Tonal gradient from pale ivory to warmer yellow hues along the body suggests differential staining and/or exposure.

Attached Image:

Certification:

This documentation is prepared according to the internal recording standards of the Hswagata Buddha Tooth Relics Preservation Private Museum for research, preservation, and veneration purposes.

Teeth are "windows into the past."

Research on Tooth Relics: History, Significance, and Scientific Studies

Abstract

Tooth relics are important objects in history and religion. They often come from famous people like the Buddha. This article looks at the history of the Buddha's tooth relic, its meaning in Buddhism, and how science studies ancient teeth. We use simple words to explain these ideas. The article has sections on history, culture, science, and a list of sources. It also includes pictures to help understand.

Introduction

What are tooth relics? A relic is a part of a person's body that people keep after death. It is special because it reminds them of that person. In Buddhism, tooth relics are very holy. The most famous one is the tooth of the Buddha. It is kept in Sri Lanka. People believe it gives power to rulers.

This article talks about research on tooth relics. We focus on the Buddha's tooth because it has a long history. We also look at how scientists study old teeth from the past. These teeth tell us about ancient people, their food, and where they came from. The information comes from books, websites, and studies.

Why study tooth relics? They help us learn about religion, culture, and science. In religion, they connect people to the past. In science, teeth are strong and last a long time. They give clues about human history.

andbeyond.com

Experience the Sacred Tooth Relic a Buddhist Temple in Kandy

This picture shows the Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is where the famous tooth is kept.

History of the Buddha's Tooth Relic

The story of the Buddha's tooth starts long ago. The Buddha lived in India about 2,500 years ago. His real name was Siddhartha Gautama. After he died, people burned his body. From the fire, they found four teeth. These teeth became relics.

One tooth went to a king in India. Later, there was a war over it. People thought that if you have the tooth, you can rule the land. In the 4th century, a princess hid the tooth in her hair and brought it to Sri Lanka. The king there built a temple for it in Anuradhapura.

Over time, the tooth moved to different places in Sri Lanka. Kings always kept it near them. In the 16th century, it came to Kandy. The Portuguese tried to destroy it, but it survived. Today, it is in the Temple of the Tooth. Every year, there is a big festival called Esala Perahera. Elephants and dancers carry the relic in a parade.

There are other tooth relics too. One is in Singapore at the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. It was found in Myanmar in 1980. A monk discovered it in an old stupa. Now, it is in a gold stupa for people to see.

Some people question if these teeth are real. But for Buddhists, they are symbols of faith. History books like the Mahaparinibbana Sutta talk about the teeth.

ceylonexpeditions.com

Tooth Relic Temple Kandy | Sri Lanka Holiday Packages

Here is another view of the temple. It shows the beautiful building where the relic is protected.

Significance in Culture and Religion

Why is the tooth relic important? In Buddhism, relics are like the Buddha is still here. They have spiritual power. People pray to them for blessings. In Sri Lanka, the tooth is a symbol of the country. The president takes care of it. It shows who has the right to rule.

In the past, kings fought for the relic. If you have it, gods approve you as leader. This idea came from India. When the tooth came to Sri Lanka, it helped unite the people.

Today, millions visit the temple. They bring flowers and pray. The relic helps keep Buddhist traditions alive. It also brings tourists to Sri Lanka. The temple has museums with old art and stories about the Buddha.

In other places, like Singapore, the temple teaches about Buddhism. It has classes and helps the community. The relic there is from a different tooth, but it has the same meaning.

Some relics are broken pieces. One book talks about a "Broken Front Tooth Relic" from Afghanistan. It is a small fragment in a silver box. It shows that even small parts are holy.

The relic connects people across countries. From India to Sri Lanka to Singapore, it spreads Buddhist ideas.

britannica.com

Temple of the Tooth |History, Description, & Facts | Britannica

This image is of the inside of the temple. You can see the gold stupa that holds the tooth.

Scientific Research on Ancient Tooth Relics

Now, let's talk about science. Tooth relics are not just for religion. Scientists study old teeth to learn about the past. Teeth are hard and do not break easily. They stay in the ground for thousands of years.

In archaeology, teeth tell us about ancient people. For example, marks on teeth show what food they ate. If teeth have lines, it means the person was sick or hungry.

Scientists use DNA from teeth to find out where people came from. One study looked at old teeth and found that Native Americans came from Asia in one big group.

In some places, people removed teeth on purpose. In ancient Taiwan and Vietnam, they pulled out front teeth as a ritual. It showed they belonged to a group. This started 4,800 years ago. It helps us understand migration in Asia.

In Europe, Stone Age people used animal teeth for jewelry. Scientists tested ways to pull teeth from animals. They used cutting and heating.

For religious relics, some scientists check if they are real. They use X-rays or scans. One study looked at the Buddha's tooth in Sri Lanka. It said the tooth looks like a human canine tooth.

Teeth also show how people lived. In the Holy Land, old teeth help study diseases from the past.

timesofisrael.com

Ancient teeth show some early humans came to Israel from Europe ...

This photo shows ancient human teeth found in Israel. They help scientists learn about early humans.

More on Scientific Methods

Scientists use new tools to study teeth. They look at isotopes in teeth. These tell about diet and where the person grew up. For example, if someone ate a lot of plants, the teeth show it.

In forensics, teeth help identify people. But for ancient relics, it is about history. One book says teeth are "windows into the past."

In Turkey, 8,500 years ago, people wore human teeth as jewelry. This shows how teeth were important in culture.

Research on tooth relics mixes religion and science. For Buddha's tooth, history books tell the story, but science checks the facts.

snexplores.org

Ancient jaw suggests humans left Africa earlier than thought

Here is an ancient jaw with teeth. It helps study human migration.

Challenges in Research

Studying relics is not easy. Religious relics are holy, so scientists cannot always touch them. People may not allow tests. Also, some relics are fake. History has many stories of wars over them.

In archaeology, finding teeth is good, but they need careful cleaning. Weather and time can damage them.

Future research may use better technology. Like 3D scans or AI to study shapes.

labmanager.com

Rare Find: Human Teeth Used as Jewelry in Turkey 8,500 Years Ago ...

This image shows human teeth used as jewelry from long ago.

Conclusion

Tooth relics are fascinating. The Buddha's tooth has a rich history from India to Sri Lanka. It means power and faith in religion. In science, ancient teeth teach us about human life, food, and travel.

Research helps us understand our past. It connects religion, culture, and science. More studies will find new stories from teeth.

We hope this article helps you learn about tooth relics in a simple way.

References

1. The tooth relic of the Buddha: The viewpoint from paleodontology and modern dentistry - PMC - NIH. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10829713
2. Relic of the tooth of the Buddha - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relic_of_the_tooth_of_the_Buddha
3. Temple of the Tooth |History, Description, & Facts - Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Temple-of-the-Tooth
4. The Buddha Tooth Relics: Special Research on the Broken Front Tooth Relics - PhilArchive. https://philarchive.org/archive/BHITBT
5. How the Sacred Buddha's Tooth Relic & the Righteous Ruler of Sri Lanka are connected - LankaWeb. https://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2025/04/12/how-the-sacred-buddhas-tooth-relic-the-righteous-ruler-of-sri-lanka-are-connected
6. THE SWEET SACRED TOOTH OF KANDY: Buddha's tooth relic temple in Kandy - Dakini Translations. https://dakinitranslations.com/2024/03/20/a-sacred-tooth-of-kandy-buddhas-tooth-relic-temple-in-kandy-sri-lanka-pilgrimage-ii
7. Buddha Tooth Relic Temple in Singapore: Sacred History & Visitor Guide - Mantrapiece. https://mantrapiece.com/blogs/famous-buddhist-temples/exploring-the-buddha-tooth-relic-temple-in-singapore
8. (PDF) The Buddha Tooth Relics: Special Research on the Broken Front Tooth Relics - ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/399233357_The_Buddha_Tooth_Relics_Special_Research_on_the_Broken_Front_Tooth_Relics
9. A history of the Tooth Relic in Ceylon - SOAS Repository. https://soas-repository.worktribe.com/output/405731/a-history-of-the-tooth-relic-in-ceylon-with-special-reference-to-its-political-significance-c-ad-300-1500
10. Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum - Singapore - NLB. https://www.nlb.gov.sg/main/article-detail?cmsuuid=389e7067-97fb-4e1d-b7e9-688efd442319
11. 15 Facts & Figures about the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum - Clio Muse Tours. https://cliomusetours.com/15-fun-facts-about-the-buddha-tooth-relic-temple-and-museum
12. Windows into the past: recent scientific techniques in dental analysis - PMC. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10853062
13. Ritual tooth ablation in ancient Taiwan and the Austronesian expansion - ScienceDirect. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352226724000448
14. What Ancient Teeth Can Tell Us About Humanity's Past - University of Illinois Chicago. https://dentistry.uic.edu/news-stories/what-ancient-teeth-can-tell-us-about-humanitys-past
15. Study of Ancient Teeth Shows Single Native American Migration from Asia - Ancient Origins. https://www.ancient-origins.net/news-evolution-human-origins/native-american-migration-0020088
16. Marks of Belonging: What Tooth Removal Reveals About Ancient Migration and Identity in Vietnam - Anthropology.net. https://www.anthropology.net/p/marks-of-belonging-what-tooth-removal
17. Study reveals Stone Age methods of extracting animal teeth for jewelry - The Jerusalem Post. https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-858777

Manikyala Stupa and Tooth Relics

The Bone Relics Case Studies Register

Buddha Relics and Stupa Deposits: The Archaeology of Reliquaries, Coins, and Contextual Evidence (E-Book Release)

                     

 

• Count the evidence. Protect the relics.

• From sealed stūpa chambers to modern custody: tooth relics traced, graded, and safeguarded.

• A research registry for the world’s most contested relic tradition.

---

How many “Buddha tooth relics” can be traced to documented relic deposits—rather than later tradition alone?

Buddha Relics and Stupa Deposits answers that question with a research registry that separates material description from religious attribution, explicitly distinguishing “TOOTH (material)” from “TOOTH (Buddha) (claim)” and coding tooth-like corporeal remains as RelicMaterial = MAT-TOOTH.

Across the registry tables presented in this volume, at least 31 stūpa-site records explicitly list tooth/teeth relic material (tooth relics, tooth-like remains, or teeth fragments). The book highlights cases where a tooth relic is listed together with excavation history and a recorded reliquary—such as Ahin Posh Stupa (“5 Tooth relics,” reliquary noted as sealed in the British Museum) and Bimaran Stupa No. 2 (“Tooth and bone fragments,” with the relic material noted as lost)—demonstrating how even strong deposit records can later degrade into claim-only situations through loss or dispersal.

The result is not devotional repetition, but auditable heritage scholarship: evidence grading, documentation-gap logging, custody-regime fields, and ethical recording standards designed to prevent harm while preserving truth. The book also addresses the modern reality that scientific testing of bone/tooth relics can carry ethical and conservation risks when destructive sampling is required.

---

Abstract

Buddha Relics and Stupa Deposits

The Archaeology of Reliquaries, Coins, and Contextual Evidence across Buddhist Stupa Sites

This volume presents a structured research registry of Buddhist stūpas with relic deposits, designed to unify scattered excavation reports, museum catalogues, and contextual indicators (including reliquaries, inscriptions, and coins) into a comparative evidence base. A central methodological contribution is the strict separation of material identification from religious attribution, explicitly distinguishing “tooth (material)” from “tooth (Buddha) (claim),” and encoding tooth-like corporeal remains using controlled terminology (e.g., RelicMaterial = MAT-TOOTH).

Focusing on Buddha tooth relic traditions, the study demonstrates how tooth relics operate simultaneously as corporeal evidence, curated objects, and—especially in Sri Lanka—powerful instruments of public ritual and governance. The registry framework therefore records not only deposit attributes (sealed context, container chains, reliquary presence), but also custody regimes and claim-strength fields that allow analysis without collapsing “deposit evidence” into later belief.

Empirically, the registry tables in this volume contain at least 31 stūpa-site records that explicitly report tooth/teeth relic material. Highlighted cases show the full spectrum from strong deposit linkage to later uncertainty—e.g., Ahin Posh Stupa’s entry listing “5 Tooth relics” with a sealed reliquary record, versus cases where relic material is reported lost despite surviving containers. The book further addresses the limits of verification: scientific testing of bone/tooth relics can entail serious ethical and conservation challenges when destructive sampling is required.

Finally, the work situates present-day preservation within transparent, accountable stewardship: parallel “claim” and “evidence” tracks, restricted-access documentation, and ethical handling standards intended to avoid conflict or harm while maintaining truthful record-keeping.

Keywords: Buddhist archaeology; stūpa deposits; reliquaries; tooth relics; evidence grading; custody regimes; museum documentation; heritage ethics.

Download Here

---

Present-date relic preservation emphasis 

• Truthful record-keeping as preservation: guardianship entails a duty to document the fate and custody of sacred objects.

• Evidence-safe cataloguing: preserve “as written” descriptions while separately storing the controlled interpretation layer (e.g., tooth material vs Buddha-tooth claim).

• Ethical handling standard: relic care is framed as requiring transparent, fair, lawful practice and avoidance of harm; the registry stores claim-track and evidence-track in parallel.

• Custody realities captured as data: restricted access, nested casket chains, and public ritual contexts are recorded rather than assumed away.

---

Author 

Sao Dhammasami
Bhikkhu Indasoma Siridantamahāpalaka (Pen Name)
ORCID: 0009-0000-0697-4760
Title: Custodian (Siridantamahāpalaka) of the Buddha Tooth Relics
Affiliation: Founder and Director, Hswagata Buddha Tooth Relics Preservation Private Museum
Office: The Office of Siridantamahāpalaka
Expertise: Specially trained in Buddhist archaeology and the historical tracking of tooth relics through the stūpa research registry; integrates archaeological charts with travel accounts and museum records to support preservation for study and veneration.

---

Case file No.8

 

Internal Private Sources Case File No. 8 

No.	Stupa Name	Dona (Donor/Patron) Name	Archaeologist / Discoverer	Founded / Excavated Date	Established Date (Approx.)	Region Founded	Relics List	Coins (Naga/Art Motif)	Present Day Status	Remarks	HGT Case Code
233	Nandara 2 (Small Tope adjacent to Tope Nandara)	-	Charles Masson	1834 (as dispatched with Darunta finds)	-	Afghanistan	• Egg-shaped stone (intentional deposit)	-	-	Listed among “Relics from the topes of Darunta”; noted specifically as adjacent to Nandara I.	-
234	Bimaran 2 (Tope near Deh Bimaran)	-	Charles Masson	1834 (as dispatched with Darunta finds)	-	Afghanistan	• Large stone box (inscribed lines noted)• Golden casket (without cover) with sculptured figures; small rubies set• Small seal• “Thirty golden ornaments”• Beads (burnt coral, pearls, etc.)• Small stones (incl. heart-shaped; cross form)• 18 stones (sapphire, crystal, etc.)• 4 copper coins	-	-	Deposit list is given in Masson’s package memorandum.	-
235	Bimaran 4 (Small tope behind Deh Bimaran)	-	Charles Masson	1834 (as dispatched with Darunta finds)	-	Afghanistan	• Fragments of silver box• 17 beads (cornelian etc.)• Sundry beads (burnt coral etc.)• Green stone figure of recumbent cow• 6 copper coins	-	-	Explicit deposit inventory in Masson memorandum.	-
236	Bimaran 5 (Jani Tope)	-	Charles Masson; Martine Honigberger (earlier removal noted)	1834 (Masson finds; earlier Honigberger activity noted)	-	Afghanistan	• Small stone box (cover fragmentary)• 1 small gold bead• 1 bead of burnt coral• 16 copper coins	-	-	Masson notes the “grand deposit” had already been carried off by M. Martine Honigberger; later coin purchases from individuals also recorded.	-
237	Chahar Bagh 4	-	Charles Masson	1834 (as dispatched with Darunta finds)	-	Afghanistan	• Stone box• Minute golden reliquary (without cover)• 18 Indo-Scythic [Kushan] copper coins	-	-	Deposit inventory explicitly listed in Masson memorandum.	-
238	Chahar Bagh 5	-	Charles Masson	1834 (as dispatched with Darunta finds)	-	Afghanistan	• Stone box• Fragments of small silver reliquary/box• Tooth of an animal• Fragments of human bone• 1 copper coin	-	-	Deposit inventory explicitly listed in Masson memorandum.	-
239	Hadda 1 (Tope Hadda [1])	-	Charles Masson	1834 (as dispatched with Darunta finds)	-	Afghanistan	• Small stone box• Small silver reliquary/box• Twist of tuz leaf	-	-	Deposit inventory explicitly listed in Masson memorandum.	-
240	Hadda 2 (Tope Hadda [2])	-	Charles Masson	1834 (as dispatched with Darunta finds)	-	Afghanistan	• Fragments of painted bark box• (Pear-shaped bead noted in the list)• 27 copper coins of [Wima] Kadphises	-	-	Deposit inventory explicitly listed in Masson memorandum.	-
241	Hadda 3 (Tope Hadda [3])	-	Charles Masson	1834 (as dispatched with Darunta finds)	-	Afghanistan	• Fragments of large stone box• Beads (incl. 2 crystal; green-hued)• Small shell + fragment of larger shell• Fragment of green stone• 2 vegetable seeds (noted)• Small silver box (lid injured) containing minute golden one• 1 spherical gold bead• 1 pale ruby• Additional bead(s) + seeds (as listed)• 16 copper coins• Spherical black stone	-	-	Deposit inventory explicitly listed in Masson memorandum.	-
242	Hadda 4 (Tope Hadda [4])	-	Charles Masson	1834 (as dispatched with Darunta finds)	-	Afghanistan	• Small golden box with incinerated substance• Fragments of bone box• Masses of sindur [red lead]• Other small golden box with ruby set in gold• Crystal bead; golden bead; vegetable seed (as listed)• 5 copper coins	-	-	Deposit inventory explicitly listed in Masson memorandum.	-
243	Hadda 11 (Tope Hadda [11])	-	Charles Masson	1834 (as dispatched with Darunta finds)	-	Afghanistan	• 7 animal teeth (noted as “camels?”)	-	-	Deposit inventory explicitly listed in Masson memorandum.	-
244	Hadda 10 (Large tope Hadda [10])	-	Charles Masson	1834 (as dispatched with Darunta finds)	-	Afghanistan	• Iron (or iron-gilt) outer container + silver + gold nested reliquaries• Gold reliquary cover crowned with sapphire; encircled with 7 small emeralds (as listed)• Spherical gold/gilt beads; unguents (as listed)• Additional plain silver reliquary with 4 silver Sasanian coins• Large iron vessel half-filled with liquid at discovery; contents included many coins/gems/ornaments (listed in memorandum)	-	-	Masson describes a liquid-filled vessel associated with the deposit; list includes Eastern Roman solidi, large groups of Sasanian coins, rings, gems, beads, ornaments, and copper coins (as recorded).	-
245	Hadda Tepe Kelan (Tumulus Hadda / Hadda Tepe Kelan)	-	Charles Masson	1834 (memorandum context)	-	Afghanistan	• 12 copper coins	-	-	Listed as “Tumulus Hadda [Hadda Tepe Kelan]”.	-
246	Passani tumulus 1	-	Charles Masson	1834 (expenses memorandum dated 9–10–1834 noted)	-	Afghanistan	• Large stone (central)• Human bones	-	-	Masson also notes it was “not a tope as strictly understood” and relates it to a cremation-place tradition in his papers.	-
247	Passani tumulus 3	-	Charles Masson	1834 (memorandum context)	-	Afghanistan	• Large broken earthen jar• Ashes	-	-	Masson notes no other deposit beyond ashes in the jar.	-
248	Passani tumulus 4	-	Charles Masson	1834 (memorandum context)	-	Afghanistan	-	-	-	Explicitly recorded as producing nothing.	-
249	Passani tumulus 5 (Large Rashuk Tumulus of Darunta)	-	Charles Masson	27–28–1834 (excavation date noted)	-	Afghanistan	• Few corroded copper coins (summit)• 1 horseman/Azes-family coin (Mujatria-type, noted)• Small spherical stone/marble deposit (central)• Central gumbaz/cupola (decorated; no evident deposit recorded)	-	-	Recorded as a “large tumulus”; a domed internal feature is described, with “no evident deposit” beyond the noted items.	-
250	Surkh Tope	-	Charles Masson	-	-	Afghanistan	-	-	-	Treated as part of the Darunta group; associated with a nearby “group of tumuli near Surkh Tope,” one examined yielding no token.	-

Data Report

 

BIOGRAPHY

Researcher: Sao Dhammasami 

ORCID: 0009-0000-0697-4760

 Title: Custodian (Siridantamahāpalaka) of the Buddha Tooth Relics. 

Office: Founder and Director of the Hswagata Buddha Tooth Relics Preservation Private Museum. 

Expertise: Specially trained in Buddhist Archaeology and the historical tracking of Tooth Relics through the Stupa Research Registry.

This researcher uses advanced data analysis to integrate archaeological charts with historical travel accounts and museum records to produce comprehensive studies on Buddhist heritage. His work at the Hswagata Museum focuses on preserving the physical evidence of the Buddha's remains for both academic study and religious veneration.

Tooth & Major Corporeal Relics of the Lord Buddha