Bringing Scotland's History to Life Through Forensic Reconstructions

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Visitors to the newly opened Perth Museum and Art Gallery in Scotland are transported back in time as they encounter the rich history of the past.

Lifelike digital facial reconstructions of individuals from centuries past in the Perth and Kinross region of Scotland are on display at the museum. These reconstructions, created through a blend of art, anthropology, technology, and archaeology, capture the attention of visitors as they move through the exhibit.

The museum, which officially opened on March 30, showcases these incredible reconstructions that come to life as people walk by.

The reconstructions are created using skulls discovered throughout Scotland. They include a woman from the Bronze Age, dating back around 4,000 years ago, an Iron Age man from AD 500, and individuals from Scotland's medieval period in the 14th and 15th centuries, like a young male murder victim.

Skulls were used to digitally reconstruct the faces of an Iron Age man (left), a woman from the Bronze Age and a young male murder victim from the medieval period.

Skulls were used to create digital reconstructions of the faces of three individuals from different historical periods. Among them were an Iron Age man, a woman from the Bronze Age, and a young male murder victim from the medieval period. The reconstructions were done at Perth Museum by Chris Rynn.

The museum worked with Dr. Chris Rynn, a craniofacial anthropologist, and forensic artist, along with researchers from the University of Aberdeen. Mark Hall, collections officer at Perth Museum and Art Gallery, mentioned that this collaboration aimed to study ancient remains and present them in a way that resonates with local visitors and their heritage.

Visitors have the opportunity to witness the entire process of creating facial reconstructions. This includes observing the skulls on display and using interactive screens to see how anthropologists piece together the skulls, develop digital models, and ultimately produce the final reconstruction.

Secrets of the Neanderthals. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2024

Secrets of the Neanderthals. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2024

Courtesy Netflix

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Visitors to the museum can now create digital facial models of a Neanderthal who lived 75,000 years ago. They can customize the models by adjusting features like hair and eye color to see different recreations.

Rynn shared, "I've been collaborating with Perth Museum on creating forensic facial reconstructions of seven skulls. These reconstructions will be transformed into interactive touch-screen displays, allowing museum visitors to experience the process of estimating and sculpting a face."

Hall explained that the museum's collections aim to narrate the history of the individuals who have inhabited Perth over the past 10,000 years.

Uncovering Scotland’s past

Hall shared that in an effort to humanize history, they have reconstructed faces of individuals from the past by using human skulls and techniques of forensic anthropology. By studying these individuals, we can gain insight into their relationships, lifestyle, and connections with the world. Archaeology and anthropology provide valuable evidence that sheds light on these aspects of the past.

A woman from the Bronze Age lived around 3,000 to 4,000 years ago. Despite the time gap, her facial reconstruction makes her look like she could fit right in with people today.

Rynn believes that looking at faces from centuries or even millennia ago can show us that people haven't changed much over time.

After a tractor accidentally unearthed a burial chamber under Lochlands Farm in Perthshire in 1962, the remains of a woman were discovered. Her body was found in a crouched position, with a clean cut on the lower left-hand side of her facial bones.

Thanks to digital modeling, Rynn was able to reconstruct the missing parts of the Bronze Age woman's skull for the facial reconstruction.

The museum shared information that the excavator believed a severe injury may have led to the person's death.

Recent studies on the remains of a woman have shown that she was in her thirties at the time of her death. Analysis of her DNA and teeth indicated this. It was also discovered that she had joint degeneration in her lower back, indicating that she may have experienced back pain.

Furthermore, a depression was observed on the right frontal bone of her skull, which appears to have been caused by a blunt force. The researchers believe that this injury occurred shortly before her death and was likely accidental, possibly from hitting her head on a hard object.

A skull of an Iron Age man, believed to be in his 40s at the time of his death, was found in Perthshire during construction work in the 1980s. Dating back to the sixth century, experts think he was a member of the Pictish people, an ancient group indigenous to Scotland. Analysis of his bones showed that he grew up on the west coast of Scotland, worked in agriculture, and ate pork, wild birds, and freshwater fish.

Later in life, he relocated to Perthshire, where he was buried with a quernstone, a tool used for grinding grain by hand.

Dagmara Socha

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During the early 2000s, while building a concert hall near the Perth Museum and Art Gallery, archaeologists discovered the intact skeleton of a young man who passed away between 18 to 25 years old in the late 14th century.

The skeleton was carefully placed in a shallow pit under the old tenement buildings' foundations. Although there were marks on his skull indicating a rushed burial, recent studies propose that he met a violent end and was probably a victim of murder.

He suffered two blunt force injuries to his ribs and multiple rib fractures, most likely caused by strong pressure on his chest during a confrontation. The examination of his bones did not show any long-term illnesses, but it was observed that he had experienced growth interruptions during his childhood, possibly due to illnesses or lack of proper nutrition.

Among his remains, two silver coins were discovered, dating back to the years 1279-1322 and 1367-1371.

Rynn created physical and digital models to reconstruct ancient faces. By studying the shape of each skull, he was able to estimate and determine the shape of each face.

Dr. Chris Rynn, a craniofacial anthropologist and forensic artist, used digital scans of the skulls during the facial reconstruction process.

Dr. Chris Rynn, a craniofacial anthropologist and forensic artist, used digital scans of the skulls during the facial reconstruction process.

Perth Museum, Culture Perth & Kinross/Chris Rynn

Each skull took about 50 hours to reconstruct. For each skull, a 3D scan was made.

Rynn used digital scans to fill in missing pieces of the skulls by mirroring what was on the other side. He also reconstructed part of the missing jaw of the Bronze Age woman using dental patterns. After digitally reconstructing each skull, Rynn added layers of tissue, estimating tissue depths by studying the shape of each skull.

Rynn shared, "While sculpting and working on the faces, it feels like I'm meeting someone. As I come to the end of the sculpture, a connection is formed."

He started by sculpting the facial muscles in white wax, then scanned them in 3D and digitized them to put the faces back together. Finally, Rynn used an algorithm to make the faces come to life, enabling them to blink or show different expressions.

Facial reconstruction of the woman found buried near Cambridge in the United Kingdom.

Facial reconstruction of the woman found buried near Cambridge in the United Kingdom.

Courtesy Hew Morrison

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Rynn explained the final step in the process, "You have to bring them to life by turning the 3D model into a photorealistic portrait. Then, I use an algorithm to make the portrait blink and look around a bit."

The methodical process ultimately produces a lifelike result, which Rynn observed being reflected in the real world.

Rynn mentioned that in Scotland, people can often guess your Scottish ancestry by looking at your face. While walking around Perth, Rynn would come across individuals who resembled the reconstructions they were working on. It felt like meeting the people they were sculpting.

Editor's P/S:

The article offers a fascinating glimpse into the captivating world of facial reconstruction and its ability to bridge the gap between the past and present. The Perth Museum and Art Gallery's innovative exhibit transports visitors back in time through lifelike digital recreations of individuals from different historical periods in Scotland. These reconstructions not only provide an aesthetic representation of our ancestors but also offer valuable insights into their lives, cultures, and connections to the land.

By studying the shape and structure of ancient skulls, experts can estimate facial features, tissue depth, and even simulate facial expressions, bringing these historical figures to life in a way that is both evocative and informative. The process of reconstructing ancient faces is not merely a technical exercise but an act of empathy, as it allows us to connect with individuals who have long since passed. The resulting portraits offer a glimpse into the human experience, reminding us that despite the passage of time, our fundamental emotions and aspirations remain unchanged.