ADVERTISEMENT

The skill of some forensic artists, professionals who are dedicated to the Facial reconstruction of the deceased, is awe-inspiring. This time, we want to talk about one professional in particular who, unlike most in forensic science, did not resort to using a computer-aided approach, but instead used his hands.

For Oscar Nilsson, a Swedish archaeologist and sculptor specializing in the reconstruction of human faces, the number of hours spent in each rebuilding could easily add up to 200. Of course, Nilsson does use 3D-printed skulls of his muses to preserve the original skeletal excavations; however, the rest of face sculpting is done by hand.

In 1996, he opened a company called O.D. Nilssons. The company collaborates with museums around the world, helping them restore the faces of people whose graves were discovered during archaeological excavations. Facial reconstruction doesn't only require an artistic touch, but also a vast knowledge of historical facts to make the people seem as natural as can be. "The human face is a motif that never ceases to fascinate me: the variation of the underlying structure as well as the variety in details seem endless. And all the faces I reconstruct are unique. They are all individuals" - says the artist on his site.

More info: Facebook | Instagram | youtube.com | odnilsson.com

#1

Huarmey Queen

Huarmey Queen

In 2012, in the north-west of Peru, a tomb was discovered during excavations by a Polish archeological group. The burial relating to the Indian culture of Wari (later the Empire of the Incas), was a real find for scientists because it was not looted. In the tomb were found the remains of 58 noblewomen of different ages, buried with extraordinary luxuries.
One woman, in particular, nicknamed Huarmey Queen, was buried more extravagantly than others. She was laid to rest in the company of jewelry, and other luxuries, including gold ear flares, a silver goblet, a copper ceremonial axe and, among other things, expensive textiles. In those times, textiles were considered more valuable than gold and silver due to the amount of effort required to weave one. It would sometimes take two to three generations to weave.
After careful examination, it was revealed that while Huarmey Queen spent most of her time sitting, she put her upper body to great use - weaving. It was also evident that this woman was highly praised for her expertise in the subject as her resting place was filled with weaving tools crafted out of gold.

Oscar Nilsson Report

#2

A Young Woman Who Lived In The Stone Age About 5500 Years Ago

A Young Woman Who Lived In The Stone Age About 5500 Years Ago

This girl died at the age of 20. She was buried with a baby on her chest. Probably, her death was caused by difficult childbirth. The DNA is not so well preserved, but from other discovered graves of that period, it can be said that the people who lived in Brighton (United Kingdom) were not white. Their skin color was similar to that of modern people from North Africa.

Oscar Nilsson Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#3

Estrid Sigfastsdotter

Estrid Sigfastsdotter

It is assumed that this is Estrid Sigfastdotter, who lived in the XI century AD. She was an influential and rich woman who lived near Stockholm, in Taby. A series of runestones found in the burial site tells about her life and family.
She lived a very long life for those times - about 80 years. This is despite the fact that in the Viking Age, life expectancy was only 35 years. The appearance of the woman was restored by the remains found near the runestone, established in honor of her first husband, who died in Byzantium. Probably, Estrid was engaged in the improvement of her native land, the construction of roads and bridges.

Oscar Nilsson Report

Add photo comments
POST
mariarohlen avatar
Maria Rohlen
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some actually reached the age of 90 or more. A low life expectancy is because many died young as children, in childbirth, malnutrition, escapades, accidents and so on.

tinklyatom avatar
tinklyatom
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would like to know more about her and her life.. I wonder what her life was like..

sanderhaugen avatar
Sandij D
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Researched my Norwegian family back to the 1520s and was shocked to find how long some of them lived (esp the women). Here's hoping those genes are dominant.

blacksheep63 avatar
Blacksheep
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

80 years? Wow, yes, that sure is very impressive for the time.

johanna_zamora avatar
Grumble O'Pug
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Read Kristin Lavransdatter for a peek at what life was like back then, though Undset was Norwegian. Fascinating.

mzmazz avatar
Jan Mazzulla
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She is a stunningly beautiful, wise woman. Can you image the reverence in which she was held in a society, beyond the official status she held in her community, that was almost entirely reliant on knowledge of elders rather than Google?

annielaurie avatar
AnnieLaurie Burke
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

(continued) People in ancient times were not inherently shorter-lived -- they just lived more dangerous, more violent lives, without the antibiotics or emergency care we take for granted. A minor wound for us today could have been a death sentence in ancient times. So, if this lady avoided complications of pregnancy and brutal warfare in her area, it is not at all surprising – or rare, for people similarly blessed – that she lived to an age of 80. For most of human history, men’s lifespans were longer than women’s due to the dangers of childbirth, even though we know that, inherently, women are longer-lived.

thesnowleopard avatar
Paula Stiles
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Women who made it past child-bearing years seem to have had fairly long and healthy lives. Women didn't generally make it past child-bearing years.

Load More Replies...
crisbarriuso avatar
Miss Cris
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A wise and interesting woman, engaged in tje improvement of her land, and most people here seem only worried about her age. Things hasn't change for women and feminism in those centuries...

vassalcolony avatar
Vassal Colony
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Consider how spoiled we are. The great achievements of Greek sculpture pail in comparison to the talent of this man to create these works of art, to honour the dead humans who teach us about the past, to honour our common heritage as African primates, and create a virtual mirror image that is so realistic it is amazing, but yet these are just looked at superficially and we carry on with our Twitters and Facebooks and other distractions. Spoiled ape. That should be the new name for homo sapiens - Homo sapiens vastatus.

annielaurie avatar
AnnieLaurie Burke
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Please do not perpetuate the mathematical and logical error about "life expectancy" in earlier times. People that lived in a culture where the life expectancy was 35 years did not expect to be dead by 40. If they reached 35, they might well live to be 80, barring accident. Remember, the "life expectancy" is the average calculated on the age at death of the population. Because so many died in infancy, in childbirth, at a young age due to injuries (no ERs, antibiotics, etc., and almost constant warfare), this brought the AVERAGE life expectancy down. E. G., Let’s imagine two other people that are relatives of this lady. Let's further suppose that Ms. Sigfasdottir actually passed away at 90. However, her first husband was a soldier, and died in battle at 30. Her first child died shortly after being born due to an infection. So, the average life expectancy is the sum of those three ages, 90+30+0, divided by 3, or 120/3, or 40.

daphnehilsdon avatar
Daphne Hilsdon
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

when you say that people only lived to 35 years, please note this is an error. While the AVERAGE age of death may have been 35 years, this is compiled by taking a population census of everyone adding up the ages of death then dividing that total by the number of people studied. This gives an average. However this average includes child deaths, hearth deaths, war deaths, accidents, child ailment deaths. One year I did a study of people we had lost in that year - out of 30 people only 3 had been over 65, and the study included a number deaths in car accidents. The AVERAGE age of death came out at 33. years.

mihaibica avatar
Mihai Bica
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The life expectancy was mostly the same as today, more or less. What drags it down is the the high natal and youth mortality. This means that a male, once through his teens could life a long life. For women, was a bit different. Life was dangerous in their youth and during births. Chances where 50/50 for a woman to die in child birth!

mooregerald avatar
Gerald Moore
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My uncle compiled a genealogical record of our family that was very detailed going back to the 16th century. I have a copy. It doesn't go back very many years until all begin dying at what we would call middle age.

vassalcolony avatar
Vassal Colony
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can see it already. Sweden under male lineage - greatest country in the world. New Sweden after getting rid of patrilineage, "OLAF, HOW DO I PUT THIS IKEA CHAIR TOGETHER?" Norway under patrilineage - Nobel prize. After, considering major exports are fish, petroleum and gasoline and aluminum - Frieda, aren't you going to go work in the mine, oil platform, gas refinery and aluminum smelter? Naa we got refugees for that work.

vassalcolony avatar
Vassal Colony
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Let's be honest here. MEN DIED all the time in constant warfare. WOMEN reached old age so they can whine and complain how they were so hard done by, and even in these posts, all the conversation is about female suffering. The secret is out gentlemen. You are disposable to such an extent that recently I read an article that claimed that women suffer the most in war, because whereas the young man is dead and feels no more pain, his mother (!) misses him. Awwwwe. Here, here is my handkerchief, use it to wipe my a*s for me please.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#4

Adelasius Elbachus

Adelasius Elbachus

A young and handsome man from Switzerland who lived in the VIII century AD was dubbed Adelaziy Elbakhusom (Adelasius Ebalchus) by researchers. His skeleton indicates malnutrition and chronic infections. But, contrary to this, he had healthy, even and beautiful teeth, which is rare for that time. That is why he was made smiling.

Oscar Nilsson Report

#5

Neanderthal Woman

Neanderthal Woman

This lady lived about 45-50,000 years ago. Her remains were discovered during excavations in 1848 in Gibraltar.
On his Facebook, archaeologist Oscar Nilsson notes: "Finally a few words on something I thought of and struggled with, as I saw this Neanderthal face take shape. How "human" should this face appear? They were not Homo Sapiens after all. I came to the conclusion that she must have a human glimpse in her eyes. As recent research show, Europeans share around 2-4 % DNA with Neanderthals. So they must have been so much alike us, otherwise, the offspring would not have been fertile.
It is interesting to see how the image of the Neanderthals has changed over the years: from being a drooling savage to a highly-skilled competitor to us. Worth to note is also that this new image coincides with the insight that we Europeans share 2-4% DNA with the Neanderthals."

Oscar Nilsson Report

Add photo comments
POST
florapolvado avatar
Catlady6000
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There are people with these same features. A guy I worked with could be her son.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#6

Viking

Viking

The man, who allegedly was a Swedish Viking, lived at the beginning of the XI century. For the first time for the reconstruction of the Viking image, it was possible to collect the necessary amount of DNA to recreate the skin, hair, eyes. The man had red hair, blue eyes, and fair skin. He died at the age of 45.

Oscar Nilsson Report

#7

Primitive Neolithic

Primitive Neolithic

Constructed using forensic evidence derived from skeletal analysis, the face is of a 25- to 40-year-old slender man born around 5,500 years ago.

Oscar Nilsson Report

#8

This Is The Face Of A Teenager Who Lived 9,000 Years Ago

This Is The Face Of A Teenager Who Lived 9,000 Years Ago

At 7000 years before Christ, Avgi was an 18-year-old girl. She lived where modern Greece is today, and witnessed the historic moment when societies began trade hunting for technological inventions, kicking off the agricultural revolution.

Oscar Nilsson Report

Add photo comments
POST
jamesbryantmactavish avatar
James MacTavish
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Mom! You just don’t get the agricultural revolution! I am going to plow fields with Gerrrgh. Hunting and gathering is for squares. I don’t care what you say b*tch!

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#9

A Man Who Lived In Britain In The Saxon Era

A Man Who Lived In Britain In The Saxon Era

At the time of his death, he was about 45 years old. His bones suggest that he was a very strong man. Due to permanent abscesses, the man lost a lot of teeth, as well as part of the upper jaw. It is possible that he died from the next inflammatory process. He also had traces of injuries resulting from violent acts. Perhaps, this man was a soldier when he lived.

Oscar Nilsson Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#10

Birger Jarl

Birger Jarl

The ruler of Sweden from 1248 until his death on Oct. 1, 1266, in Västergötland, Sweden.

Oscar Nilsson Report

#11

A Man Who Lived In The Iron Age In Britain

A Man Who Lived In The Iron Age In Britain

His bones indicate that he lived about 2,400 years ago, and he lived well. The man was strong, well-built and healthy, but, like many people of that time, died quite early - at the age of 24–31 years. This person had pleasant features and a unique tooth structure - diastema, or shcherbinka. And his folded hair has a resemblance to the hairstyle of Germanic tribes called “Swabian knot”.

Oscar Nilsson Report

Add photo comments
POST
knifeofdragon avatar
Stina Kolling
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Diastema" means a gap in his teeth, and Shcherbinka comes up as a town in Russia. I got nothing. Gaps between one's teeth are not that unusual.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#12

Woman Of Romano-British Descent

Woman Of Romano-British Descent

Her remains indicate that she lived a difficult life, engaged in heavy physical labor. She died at about the age of 25–35. During the excavation, nails were found near the body, which can symbolize various superstitions. For example, there is information about other dead of that period, in the graves of which nails were also found - along the perimeter and in the center. Probably, people believed that in this way, they would not allow the spirits of the dead to persecute them. Although, perhaps, this is simply the result of inadvertently closing the coffin.

Oscar Nilsson Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#13

A Man Who Lived About 3,700 Years Ago In The Bronze Age

A Man Who Lived About 3,700 Years Ago In The Bronze Age

The skeleton of this person showed evidence of malnutrition and iron deficiency anemia. The man died when he was about 25–35 years old.

Oscar Nilsson Report

#14

The Medieval Middle-Aged Man From The Middle Of Sweden Is Finished

The Medieval Middle-Aged Man From The Middle Of Sweden Is Finished

"Finally, the reconstruction of the medieval middle-aged man from the middle of Sweden is finished. Although now it turns out he may not be that medieval after all. C14-results indicates that he is from somewhere during the period of 1470-1630. However, analysis of his skeleton shows that he suffered from so-called os acromiale, a defect in the bones of the shoulder with a clear connection to heavy use of longbow-shooting! So, maybe it is possible to narrow the time span to 1470-1540, as longbows gradually fell out of fashion to use during the mid 16th century." - says the archeologist.

Oscar Nilsson Report