Researchers have reconstructed the face of a 40-year-old woman who lived in present-day Malaysia from a nearly intact skull.
The research team used 3D technology to reconstruct the face of a Stone Age woman. Photo: Cicero Moraes
A team of archaeologists from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) discovered the skeleton nicknamed “the Penang Woman” during an excavation in 2017 at Guar Kepah, a Neolithic site located in Penang, northwest Malaysia. This was one of 41 skeletons unearthed at the site over several excavation phases. Radiocarbon dating of shell fragments found scattered around the remains indicates that the woman lived approximately 5,700 years ago.
Using CT scans of the nearly complete skull of the skeleton, as well as 3D images of modern Malaysians, co-author of the study Cicero Moraes, a Brazilian graphics expert, collaborated with scientists at USM to estimate the face of the woman, who died at around 40 years old, based on the wear of her bones and the closure of her skull sutures.
After digitizing the skull, Moraes placed a series of markers on the surface, primarily based on statistical research conducted on compatible populations such as modern Malaysians. Additionally, the research team utilized 3D reconstructed images with structures closely resembling the skull in question and adjusted them until they matched. With all the data, they produced a face featuring wide nostrils and full lips.
This new information brings the archaeological team closer to creating a more accurate image of the woman. During the excavation, researchers found the woman in a position with her arms folded over her stomach, surrounded by numerous burial artifacts, including ceramics and stone tools, indicating that the deceased held an important role in society.
The entire reconstruction process took several months. The final step involved refining the face by adding color and styling the hair. Currently, the research team is unclear about the cause of the woman’s death. They announced their findings on August 5 in the journal Applied Sciences.
