Two-dimensional and three-dimensional Facial Reconstruction are methods of forensic art developed to reveal a facial likeness of unidentified human skeletonized remains. A skull of the unknown individual is required for either of these applications.
- The actual skull can be used if skeletonized and cleaned
- An Optical Laser scan can be utilized to construct a digital 3-dimensional surface model of a skull
- A mold of a clean skull can be produced then cast in a variety of materials
- A rapid prototype (RP) 3-D print of skull can be developed from a computed tomography (CT) scan for a duplicate copy of the cranium and mandible even if the original has not been defleshed.
In both applications, tissue depth markers pertaining to the unknown individual’s sex and ancestry are glued onto anatomical facial points of the skull to determine an average shape for that particular face.
Skull with tissue depth markers
2-D and 3-D Facial Reconstructions of the same individual.
To develop a facial sculpture, the American and Anatomical methods of 3-D forensic facial reconstruction are combined. Non- hardening plasticine is used to recreate musculature based on the muscle attachments found on the skull. A sculpture may better translate the details of the features and assist recognition from any angle by allowing relatives and acquaintances to imagine how the unknown deceased appeared in life. This method is used for historical recreations, mummies and coroners and police requiring assistance in the identification of unknown deceased persons.
Once the sculpture has been completed, it can be molded and cast as a hard structure for easy transport or permanent display.
Assessments of the John Abbott College skulls were offered by Ed Holland, Physical Anthropologist at JAC.
_________________________________________________________________________
The ROM Mummy
Dr. Andrew Nelson,
For more information on the mummy see: The ROM Mummy Project – 30+ years of progress. Poster presented to the 36th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association for Physical Anthropologists,
Click Here 
The Mummy Team:
Nelson, A.J., Holowka, S., Allan, G., Castle, M., Chhem, R., Cunningham, I.A., Ewanchyna, M., Friedman, S.N., Garvin., G.,
Gibson, G., Granton, P.V, Kogon, S., Longstaffe, F., Lywood, V., Nguyen, N., Romagnoli, C., Shaw, R., Trumpour, M.,
Wade, A.D., White, C.D.,
***An animated version of the ROM Mummy facial reconstruction was featured in the video "Virtual Mummies" - Canadian Museum of Civilization production which accompanied the exhibit "Tombs of Eternity. The Afterlife in Ancient Egypt." (shown December 2008 to August 2009).
http://civilization.ca/cmc/whats-on/event-detail&EventId=314
* (note-this video is not the IMAX movie)
________________________________________________________________________
to read the exciting details of this research revealed by the Mummy Team.
The 1st Bolzano Mummy Conference was held in Bolzano Italy, March 2009. "Justine" was there to visit theTyrolean Iceman "Oetzi" as part of the world's largest mummy exhibition (previously shown in Mannheim and Schloss Gottorf in Germany).
The Rom / UWO Mummy Project "A Microcosm of Progress in Mummy Research" was presented by Dr. Andrew J. Nelson.
Click here
_________________________________________________
The Bank Robber Charlie Pitts?
Charlie Pitts rode with Jesse James in 1876 to rob the First National Bank in Northfield Minnesota. The hold-up was unsuccessful and the posse tracked Pitts down two weeks later. Another shoot out left Pitts riddled with 5 bullet holes including the fatal shot through the breast bone.
As a notorious member of the infamous James Gang, Pitts' body was put on display at the State Capitol in St. Paul, MN. The unclaimed remains passed through the hands of several doctors over the years as a medical specimen until if finally disappeared.
A skeleton labeled Charlie Pitts has been the property of the Northfield Historical Society for the last 25 years. Researchers Jim Bailey and Kate Blue from the Minnesota State University, Mankato completed a forensic investigation of the bones and presented their findings at the American Association of Forensic Sciences in Denver, Colorado.
Is this the face of Charlie Pitts?
Cross-border collaboration gave a face to the skeletonized remains. A CT medical scan was sent from Minnesota to Victoria Lywood. The files were converted to a printable format by Dr. Andrew Nelson, University of Western Ontario in London, Canada. Mark Ewanchyna, Engineering Dept. at John Abbott College, Montreal, Canada printed the 3D model of the skull and the forensic facial approximation was completed.A replica of the clay sculpture will be on display in September during the "Defeat of Jesse James Days" at the Northfield Historical Museum in Northfield, MN.
To read more about Kate Blue's and Jim Bailey's forensic investigation go to the Anthropology page at Minnesota State University. Click here.
To see the life and death photos of the real Charlie Pitts, read all the details and discover the exciting conclusion to the investigation of the Charlie Pitts skeleton go to the Blog written by Hayes Scriven, Director of the Northfield Historical Society. Click here.
________________________________________________________________________