Archaeologist Shows How The People Who Lived Thousands Of Years Before Us Really Looked And The Result Is Amazing
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.
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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.
Yes, many reconstructions actually look like corpses of dead people...
Load More Replies...Such power in that gaze. 1200 years later and I feel like she's about to say something to me.
There are fragments of Huarmey weaving from ca. 1200 years ago. I'd like to think some of her work survives: it is unlikely, but not impossible.
"It would take 2 to 3 GENERATIONS to weave"?!? I'm a fibers artist and an anthropologist. Whoever did the research and writing for this is woefully mistaken. A textile (piece of fabric/rug) could take anywhere from a few hours to a couple of months to weave. Due to excellent fibers and expertise of the weaver, it could last for several generations.
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.
Reminds me of the 'Afghan girl' National Geographic cover.
Load More Replies...Lol So the DNA is not well preserved yet they're able to say her skin was dark? Nonsense. The people that studied her DNA even said they couldn't make a conclusive answer. This is solely to push a narrative, ones like Jan Mazzula (below) are eating up
While I adhere totally to the "Out of Africa" theory, I take exceptions to the reconstitution of this young woman being given a black skin, whiles her remains date from about 5.500 years, which is the Neolithic period, and were found in England. The homo sapiens who left Africa to populate the earth did so some 100.000 or 200.000 ago. En route through Asia, they met Denisovians, Neanderthals and other branches of the human species who have died down so long ago that we do not know anything of their existence. It seems logical to assume that those who went south remained black-skinned (e.g. the aborigines of Australia), while those who went north through Asia and Siberia then took a turn left to Central Asia and Europe acquired a wither skin. Europe was under the Glacial Era by this time. So, we have Neanderthals and Sapiens in Europe at least since 60.000 years or more. If the woman discussed here was actually black, she is too recent to be part of the primeval wave.
Load More Replies...But one of the geneticists who performed the research says the conclusion about her skin colour is less certain, and according to others we are not even close to knowing the skin colour of any ancient human. Seems to me this is just more BS to try to force a narrative. The same thing with the "Out of Africa" theory which they knew back in the 80;s was incorrect but decided to leave it be. I would love to know the real truth about this girl. Too bad the DNA is not well preserved.
If humans did not originate fro. Africa, where the oldest human skeletal remains have been found, could you tell us where else the evidence points to? You might want to enlighten the experts as they still argue that the "OUT OF AFRICA" story fits with the EVIDENCE.
Load More Replies...I find it a bit disturbing that the idea of ancient travel and migration seems to escape so many minds. Legs are very useful.
As I just said, the young woman in question dates from Neolithic times (roughly 3.000 to 5.000 years ago, depending on the regions). The Neolithic is the time when humans abandoned the hunter/gatherer way of life to become farmers and breeders. It was also, surprisingly, a time of extraordinary trade routes along the large streams of Europe. So, the only hypothesis I can fin for a black young neolithic woman to be in England is that she followed a trade route across or around the Mediterranean and then up a major stream like the Danube, the Rhine or the Rhone and so on.
Load More Replies...She is gorgeous. Looks as if she can just begin speaking at any moment. Amazing reconstruction work
Wow, amazing that her skin colour has caused so much anxiety. One only has to look at white South Africans or Australians, the pigmentation of their offspring (assuming they only have white partners) will remain white for generations. Homo Sapiens originate from Africa. So the ancestors of this woman had migrated from Africa thousands of years before arriving in the land that we call England. Of course she had brown skin!
The european descendant people of South Africa and Australia will continue to have white skin if they don't have children to native people with coloured skin. Skin doesn't just change colour to suit the climate. How do you explain that all Europeans had white skin ?? Where did it come from ?? What made it change ??
Load More Replies...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.
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.
Thank you! Average life expectancy is very misleading.
Load More Replies...I would like to know more about her and her life.. I wonder what her life was like..
Read Kristin Lavransdatter for a peek at what life was like back then, though Undset was Norwegian. Fascinating.
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?
(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.
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...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.
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.
Poor guy. Makes you want to feed him and get him antibiotics.
Load More Replies...Tiger Beat A.D. 2: Like all of us luscious Adealasius Ebalchus has a “skeleton [that] indicates malnutrition and chronic infections; even so he is all dreamy.”
Can a more accurate dating be made; if there are historical accounts of famine periods, during which he could have been growing up?
Wow. I can’t say anything more these sculptures are just beyond anything I’ve ever seen! You have an amazing talent!
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."
There are people with these same features. A guy I worked with could be her son.
As a science teacher I use these facts when I teach about evolution. In the last five years or so some teenagers have started to have very racist views (in Denmark), and they always come with stupid ideas in class about Africans being ‘stupid’. I then tell them that we here in Europe mixed our genes with neanderthals - the Africans didn’t, so in a way Africans are the ‘purest’ of us. Obviously none are more ‘pure’ than the other, but the racists hate it.
This is disturbing to hear. I want to believe that young people are smarter than that, but I'm hearing more and more racist things from youth around the world.
Load More Replies...contrary to popular belief, Neanderthals were quite intelligent and not the savages that are often depicted..
Yup. That is correct. They are far more complex than most think. And we are learning more all the time.
Load More Replies...She looks skeptical. "Thousands of years after I die, someone will make a figure of me?"
As I understood it, Neanderthals are now classified as homo sapien Neanderthal as opposed to homo sapien sapien.
A great read by an eminent scientist that will dispel your Neanderthal stereotypes is "The Humans Who Went Extinct: Why Neanderthals Died Out and We Survived" by Clive Finlayson.
She's thinking "Oh no, not another Cro-Magnon guy who wants to share his DNA with me." :-/
My family has rose gold (not pink, look it up) hair that shows up every few generations. I'm the lucky one this go round, am happy for my Neanderthal DNA.
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.
I think it is clear that this is a Swedish viking. Danish vikings generally was a lot more handsome 😉😉😉🇩🇰🇸🇪
Someday I will be the great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great grandfather of Simon Pegg!
so VIkings were often redhaired. I wonder if the Celtic red hair and colouring came from their invasions into the lands or they are somehow genetically connected anyway.
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.
Yes. I am not alone I also find him to look like Chris Hemsworth.
Load More Replies...Yes. The guy that made this is incompetent. It has to obviously appeal to a modern audience. Black and dark hair has always been prevalent In the uk and especially in the south west.
Load More Replies...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.
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!
Back then an 18 year old was a grown woman with a few children.
Load More Replies...Some see the start of agriculture as THE most important technological revolusion in history! It meant that we had extra enegy to develop further and share new ideas with others. Before we used all energy to get food, and being nomades we didn’t meet others very often.
I think the "teenage scowl" is pretty universal, regardless of what part of the world you're living in. And going by this, it's nothing new and has probably been around since the dawn of man and the very first teens 😂😂😂 I can just imagine it now, a teenage caveman/woman rolling their eyes with an exaggerated sigh or pitching a complete fit cuz her caveparents are being like totally unfair.
So we haven't bred out the "know-it-all, eye-roll smirk" they all seem to still have?
But I already told you. I want a smoother stone! Not this c**p. No one takes me seriously.
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.
Yes, we take antibiotics for granted, but they're shockingly recent. Before that it was herbal poultices and possibly leeches or maggots.
Load More Replies...If only I could be born a few thousand years later, so I could buy a Harley!
His face reminds me statues of Vercingetorix, Celtic king and leader of his people against Roman empire.
"Central Casting? Yes, I need a Saxon please." "No problem, got you covered."
Birger Jarl
The ruler of Sweden from 1248 until his death on Oct. 1, 1266, in Västergötland, Sweden.
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”.
"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.
So does this mean that Celtic Britain was in contact with Germanic tribes? I always thought the Germanic tribes(angles, jutes and saxons) came into Britain about 800 years after this guy was born.
It would be nice if the picture were lighter so you could actually see the Swabian knot.
In Polish it means a gap, or a backsight, which is that little slit in the back of the riffle you look through and want to it meet with frontsight when you’re aiming at something.
These are so touching! I feel like I’m reaching back into history and seeing their time periods come to life.
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.
I feel like she could speak to me right through the screen of my phone. Unreal!
What does "inadvertently closing the coffin" mean? Closing the coffin accidentally??
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.
Probably to help with the anemia; a tattoo meant to alleviate the condition. Otzi (the iceman) had tattoos that anthropologists feel were applied to help with arthritis. So there's a long tradition of using tattoos being used medicinally.
Load More Replies...I want to take this poor young man home and give him a good meal.There is an expression of great sadness and knowing on his features.
His features are somewhat like those who have achondroplasia dwarfism.
They ate what ever they could get their hands on! Grains, roots, birds etc. (Europeans didn’t eat potatoes before the 1600s). We always hear about the rich kings and noble people who ate well. The vast majority struggled to get enough to eat.
Load More Replies...Dark under eyes is a sign of anemia. Add b12 to your iron for optimal absorption!
Still a lot of Neanderthal in the DNA for the bronze age people I see.
This is a forensic recreation from his bones. The artist may have left the recreation bare of facial hair to show more detail.
Load More Replies...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.
They're everywhere, they're inevitable, and they're comin' for you: THE KARENS
Load More Replies...Someday I will be the great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great grandfather of Gerard Depardieu.
I think he and the Viking guy would've been awesome to run into in the Mended Drum
If you guys like this stuff check out History Cold Case on Youtube. There are only a few but they are really good and feature facial reconstructions of the cases and talks a bit about that process. Be warned though, some of them are not easy to watch.
Yaaaas saw this when I ran out of shows to watch -- you're my hero!
Load More Replies...The detail is amazing. I would love to see more about the techniques and materials involved in making theses.
I was looking for Ötzi but I didn't find him! But it makes sense I guess considering the existing recreations. Awesome work!
Yah me too. I would like to see a 3D representation of Otzi the iceman
Load More Replies...Stunning work. Thank you for sharing. Just amazing and so very well made.
Holy c**p these are super realistic. I can imagine so many horror movies. *maniacal laughter*
If you guys like this stuff check out History Cold Case on Youtube. There are only a few but they are really good and feature facial reconstructions of the cases and talks a bit about that process. Be warned though, some of them are not easy to watch.
Yaaaas saw this when I ran out of shows to watch -- you're my hero!
Load More Replies...The detail is amazing. I would love to see more about the techniques and materials involved in making theses.
I was looking for Ötzi but I didn't find him! But it makes sense I guess considering the existing recreations. Awesome work!
Yah me too. I would like to see a 3D representation of Otzi the iceman
Load More Replies...Stunning work. Thank you for sharing. Just amazing and so very well made.
Holy c**p these are super realistic. I can imagine so many horror movies. *maniacal laughter*
