From Skull to Face: an Improved Framework for Ethnically Faithful 3D Face Reconstruction

Abstract

3D imagery can be a useful tool for archaeologists and anthropologists committed to the study of ancient people, helping them to better visualize the results of their theories and findings. This paper presents a methodology to generate a tridimensional model of a compatible face from its skull, and is specifically aimed to archaeological/anthropological applications. The proposed approach to facial reconstruction, that relies on craniometrical analysis and content based image retrieval technology, has two main purposes: to achieve a more ethnically faithful reproduction of main facial features respect to other techniques based on statistical data, and to allow a plausible reproduction of important physiognomic features (such as eyes, nose, lips, ears and hairs) which can t be inferred from the skull. The facial reconstruction of a female subject found in the archaeological site of Murecine (Pompei) who found death during the volcanic eruption in 79 a. C. is presented as a case study.