3D facial reconstruction and 3D printing of women skull from Bronze age, Slovakia

Abstract

Facial reconstruction of individuals from historical periods can provide more information about them. The main aim of this study was to create an anthropological facial reconstruction of a Bronze Age skull based on a new soft tissue thickness database created from a sample of the Slovak female population. Using ultrasound, we evaluated 27 facial landmarks on 50 Slovak women, aged 18–30 years with Slovak genealogical history. The Bronze Age skull was anthropologically estimated as a Caucasoid female aged 24–30 years at the time of death. The ultrasound results were analysed and compared with nine European populations. Statistical analysis showed that there is no statistical difference between these populations in the values of facial soft tissue thicknesses. Using CT and Blender software with add-ons, we created a facial approximation of the skull. We 3D printed the virtual model, which can be used for educational and scientific purposes.