Lapis Lazuli, an extremely rare, blue pigment was found in the tartar of a tooth that is believed to be more than 1000 years old.

The precious powder was worth as much as gold throughout Medieval times and was mined from a specific region of Afghanistan.

Archaeologist had originally been studying the woman's teeth to learn more about diet, but the ultramarine coloring lead them toward another discovery.

They called upon Alison Beach, an assistant professor at The Ohio State University, who specializes in Medieval history.

"What we think was happening was that she would have been trying to put some small details of blue on to some animal skin, on to parchment and in order to get a nice pointy tip to her pen, she would have to put it in her mouth, maybe twist, make a point (and) dip," she said.

Although the exact identity of the woman is too difficult to presume, researches now believe she was a woman of ordinary status that helped to create extraordinary art within Medieval manuscripts.

"She's not putting paint in her mouth, but actually preparing he brush and because there is so much of the lapis and layers over time, we think this was more related to paint activity than some of the other possibilities for how it got there," said Beach.

The woman was buried near a church in Germany and believed to have worked at a monastary creating liturgical books.