Forensic ArtsFACIAL RECONSTRUCTION FROM SKELETAL
REMAINS
• Fundamental in forensic science as a
method for identifying bodies
• But why in archaeology/paleo
anthropology?
Why?
• Characterisation of individuals of certain
societies
• Humanisation; tangible impression of
individuals from the past
• Visualising evolutionAustralopithecus afarensis
How?• 3 main approaches: ‘Russian’,
‘American’, ‘Manchester’
Problems
• Range and depth of skills needed
• Ambiguous variables
• Differences between ethnic groups,
sexes, ages
• Environmental factors - Landau
Problems
• Very invasive without use of virtual
anthropology (VA)
• Computer-aided reconstruction requires
sophisticated techniques. These are
controlled by few teams in the world
Problems• Forensic accuracy (identification): Will and William West,
1903
Examples
Harwa: Egyptian nobleman, 1st millennium BC
Francesco Gonzaga, prominent nobleman of Italian Renaissance
and son of Isabella d’Este
Fayoum Mummies and accompanying portraits
Late Roman/Early Coptic period, Egypt
Mummies 1770 and Sensaos
Philip II, father to Alexander III of Macedon
Tutankhamun - pharaoh, post-Amarna
(kind of obscure)