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 portraitsLate Roman/Early Coptic period, Egypt

Mummies 1770 and Sensaos

Philip II, father to Alexander III of Macedon

Tutankhamun - pharaoh, post-Amarna

(kind of obscure)