Face of 2500-year-old woman revealed

Dr Dias (front left) and the team that made the facial reconstruction of the Turkish peasant woman. Photo / Otago Daily Times

New Zealand scientists have recreated the face of a 2500-year-old Turkish peasant with technology they hope could be used in court in coming years.

University of Otago researchers refined procedures they had previously used on an Egyptian mummy to reconstruct the skull of the woman whose full skeleton was found during an archaeological dig in Keltepe, near the site of the ruins of the ancient merchant city of Kanesh.

The project began last year when senior lecturer in anatomy and structural biology, Dr George Dias, travelled to Turkey after the skeleton's discovery.

The site was on the cross roads of the East-West, and North-South trade routes.

The face was reconstructed with silicone skin, real hair, and eyes which have been aged with red veins. The woman is believed to have been between 35 and 50 when she died.

The most fascinating aspect of the woman was the state of her teeth, which were immaculate at a time when teeth were cleaned with sticks.

The project was completed in partnership with Anadolu University, with which Otago University has a long history of co-operation.

A mathematical model was created with Associate Professor I.M Premachandra, of the department of finance and qualitative analysis, to provide accurate soft tissue facial depths, based on bone measurements.

Traditionally, facial depth averages were based on race, but not every person of a particular race had a certain face so the science was flawed, Dr Dias said.

He hoped to refine the science to such a standard that it would stand up to scrutiny in court, and act like a fingerprint for identification.

"Within the next few years we will reach that point," he said.

The team behind the reconstruction had previously used its techniques on a 2300-year-old Egyptian mummy, which is on display at Otago's museum.

The reconstructed face is on display this weekend at Otago University's St David Street Lecture Theatre and will go on permanent display in Istanbul this year.

- OTAGO DAILY TIMES