A facial reconstruction has finally revealed what a young woman, who died more than 3,700 years ago, looked like.
Known as ‘Ava’, an abbreviation of Achavanich where her bones were discovered in Caithness in 1987, she is the subject of a long-term research project managed by archaeologist Maya Hoole.
When the discovery was made in the eighties, a specialist confirmed that the remains were of a young Caucasian woman aged between 18 and 22 and that she was part of a much wider European group known as the Beaker people, the BBC reports.
What confused researchers about this Bronze Age woman in particular though was that she was buried into a pit dug into solid rock and the abnormality of her skull.
Ava’s demise remains unclear, but the uneven shape of her skull, which was unlike other people in her group, suggested that this was a result of deliberate binding.
Forensic artist Hew Morrison, a University of Dundee graduate, created the reconstruction, using an anthropological formula to calculate the shape of Ava’s missing lower jaw, and also the depth of her skin.
By also utilising a large database of high resolution pics of different faces, he managed to rebuild the layers of muscles and tissue over the face.
Individual features were then tweaked to fit with the anatomy of her skull and these features were then ‘morphed together’ using computer software to get create the overall look.
Mr Morrison said:
I have really appreciated the chance to recreate the face of someone from ancient Britain. Being able to look at the faces of individuals from the past can give us a great opportunity to identify with our own ancient ancestors.
Hoole shared her thanks for those involved, adding that she hoped that they could ‘continue to reveal more about her life’.
