Ancient Colombian Mummies Unmasked: Faces of the Past Revealed
Centuries-old mummies from the Colombian Andes have been digitally unmasked and virtually reconstructed, revealing the faces of their ancient inhabitants. Led by Dr. Dorothea Krüger, researchers used computed tomography to remove death masks and recreate the mummies' appearances in life.
The mummies, including a child aged 6-7, a woman in her 60s, and two young adult males, were buried with stylized masks made of resin, clay, wax, and maize. This practice, common in other parts of pre-Columbian South America, was rare in Colombia. Radiocarbon dating places their lives between 1216 and 1797.
To recreate their faces, the team used CT scans to digitally remove the mask layers. They then added facial features such as skin, eye, and hair color typical of the region, along with neutral facial expressions. Specialized software and a haptic touch stylus pen helped add muscles, soft tissue, and fat onto the unmasked skulls, giving them a lifelike appearance. The team also included facial 'texture' like wrinkles, eyelashes, freckles, and pores for a more realistic effect.
The reconstructed faces were presented at the 11th World Congress on Mummy Studies in Peru on Aug. 14. This groundbreaking work offers valuable insights into the appearance and culture of ancient Colombian Andean people, providing a tangible connection to our past.
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