Seven faces from Grave Circle B at Mycenae

Abstract

The faces of seven skulls from Grave Circle B were reconstructed by the Manchester team, as an exercise in using the technique of facial reconstruction to look for family relationships on the basis of facial resemblances among the three or four burial groups within the circle. Similarities were noted between Ζ59 and Γ51, from early and late phases respectively; and between Γ55 (the man with the electrum mask) and his female tomb companion Γ58, both having a quite different facial structure from Γ51 but sharing features with A62, a late-phase burial from a different part of the circle. The skulls from the early burials Σ131 and Β52 showed only slight similarities to the others.