Mummies of Andes Unmasked: Faces Reconstructed After Centuries
A team of international scientists has digitally unmasked and virtually reconstructed the faces of centuries-old mummies from the Andes of Colombia. The mummies, including a child, an elderly woman, and two young adult men, were buried with stylized masks made of resin, clay, wax, and maize.
The process involved CT scans to digitally remove the mask layers from the skulls. For the two young adult male skulls, the team used average facial tissue depth data from modern-day adult male Colombians. However, for the child and the elderly female, contemporary tissue data was not available, so muscles and fat were added as needed.
Specialized software and a haptic touch stylus pen were used to superimpose muscles, soft tissue, and fat onto the digitally unmasked skulls. The most challenging part was adding facial 'texture' such as wrinkles, eyelashes, freckles, and pores. The team gave the individuals typical skin, eye, and hair color of the region and created a neutral facial expression. The reconstructed faces are an average representation, not an accurate portrait.
The reconstructed faces offer a glimpse into the possible appearance of these individuals during their lifetimes. This digital unmasking and reconstruction process provides valuable insights into the cultural practices and physical characteristics of the pre-Columbian South American population.
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