A computerized facial approximation method for archaic humans based on dense facial soft tissue thickness depths

Wuyang Shui,Yameng Zhang,Mingquan Zhou,Xiujie Wu

doi:10.1007/s12520-021-01450-w

Abstract

Facial approximation (FA) is a common tool used to recreate the possible facial appearance of a deceased person based on the relationship between soft tissue and the skull. Although this technique has been primarily applied to modern humans in the realm of forensic science and archaeology, only a few studies have attempted to produce FAs for archaic humans. This study presented a computerized FA approach for archaic humans based on the assumption that the facial soft tissue thickness depths (FSTDs) of modern living humans are similar to those of archaic humans. Additionally, we employed geometric morphometrics (GM) to examine the geometric morphological variations between the approximated faces and modern human faces. Our method has been applied to the Jinniushan (JNS) 1 archaic human, which is one of the most important fossils of the Middle Pleistocene, dating back to approximately 260,000 BP. The overall shape of the approximated face has a relatively lower forehead and robust eyebrows; a protruding, wider, and elongated middle and upper face; and a broad and short nose. Results also indicate skull morphology and the distribution of FSTDs influence the approximated face. These experiments demonstrate that the proposed method can approximate a plausible and reproducible face of an archaic human.

Highlights

Facial approximation (FA) or craniofacial reconstruction aims at recreating a potential facial appearance from a dry skull
We examined the effects of skull morphology and facial soft tissue thickness depths (FSTDs) on the approximated faces
geometric morphometrics (GM) was carried out to capture the main features of the approximated faces and examine the geometric morphological variations between the approximated faces and modern human faces

Summary

Introduction

Facial approximation (FA) or craniofacial reconstruction aims at recreating a potential facial appearance from a dry skull. This technique is often the last hope in the realm of forensic science when no other clues and evidence support the investigation and identification (Wilkinson 2010). It has sometimes been applied to named individuals, but more usually unnamed people from the past. These applications always focused on modern humans, and they are less commonly applied to archaic humans, where differences in skull and facial morphologies make the approximation more challenging.

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