Researchers at the British Museum have combined forensic science and the latest in scanning technology to reconstruct the face of 9,500-year-old man.
Researchers at the British Museum have combined forensic science and the latest in scanning technology to reconstruct the face of 9,500-year-old man.
Copyright Trustees of the British Museum. Photo by RN-DS partnership
The reconstruction is based on the Jericho Skull, discovered by British archaeologist Kathleen Kenyon in 1953. The skull is believed to have been covered in plaster during a Neolithic ceremony.
The reconstruction is based on the Jericho Skull, discovered by British archaeologist Kathleen Kenyon in 1953. The skull is believed to have been covered in plaster during a Neolithic ceremony.
© The Trustees of the British Museum
Micro-CT scanning was used to extract a model of the skull from underneath the plaster face
Micro-CT scanning was used to extract a model of the skull from underneath the plaster face
© Crispin Wiles
A model of the skull was 3D-printed with a full set of teeth and a new lower jaw.
A model of the skull was 3D-printed with a full set of teeth and a new lower jaw.
Copyright Trustees of the British Museum. Photo by RN-DS partnership
Pegs were inserted to gauge tissue depth during the reconstruction process.
Pegs were inserted to gauge tissue depth during the reconstruction process.
Copyright Trustees of the British Museum. Photo by RN-DS
The face was built in clay, one muscle at a time.
The face was built in clay, one muscle at a time.
Copyright Trustees of the British Museum. Photo by RN-DS partnership
Clay was applied in layers to reproduce the correct depth of skin, tissue and muscle.
Clay was applied in layers to reproduce the correct depth of skin, tissue and muscle.
Copyright Trustees of the British Museum. Photo by RN-DS partnership
"He does look very modern, [but] these were modern humans living at Jericho," says Alexandra Fletcher, the Museum's Raymond and Beverly Sackler Curator for the Ancient Near East, of the completed reconstruction. <br /><br />"People get these ideas about hairy cavemen. That's not it at all. These are modern human populations, just like you and me."
"He does look very modern, [but] these were modern humans living at Jericho," says Alexandra Fletcher, the Museum's Raymond and Beverly Sackler Curator for the Ancient Near East, of the completed reconstruction.

"People get these ideas about hairy cavemen. That's not it at all. These are modern human populations, just like you and me."
Copyright Trustees of the British Museum. Photo by RN-DS partnership