A new exhibition in Budapest, Hungary, is offering a unique glimpse into the lives of ordinary residents of the ancient Roman city of Aquincum. The display, titled “Once we were like you,” features highly realistic facial reconstructions of individuals whose skulls were unearthed from the city, which once stood on the Danube frontier of the Roman Empire.
The exhibition, running until October 31, utilizes DNA analysis, archaeology, and anthropology to recreate the likenesses of individuals who lived nearly 2,000 years ago. These scientific methods help determine details such as skin, hair, and eye color, and whether a person had freckles.
Information gleaned from the skull's shape and density provided insights into facial structure, age, and any injuries or diseases the person may have suffered. Based on this data, curators developed names, occupations, and biographical narratives for each reconstructed face, aiming to connect modern audiences with these ancient individuals.
"Our main goal was to bring a few of these individuals closer to the people of today," said Loránt Vass, an archaeologist and co-curator of the exhibition. He explained that while the exact names of these individuals are unknown, the reconstructions incorporate as much information as anthropological and genetic studies could reveal about their lives.
One reconstructed individual, named Respectus, is depicted as a construction worker whose life in Aquincum involved plastering walls and splitting stone. According to the exhibition's narrative, his bones show signs of wear from his labor, and he suffered a broken nose and lost a tooth in a tavern altercation.
Many of the reconstructed individuals, like Respectus, likely belonged to the lower-middle class. Vass noted that analysis of their bones indicates a "fairly high degree" of inflammation, suggesting regular physical labor and periods of starvation. "Based on this, it can be concluded that most of them belonged to the lower middle class, which is the least remembered segment of Roman society," Vass stated.
Of the 16 reconstructions, six are detailed silicon models adorned with realistic hair, clothing, and jewelry. Emese Gábor, who handcrafted these models, highlighted the advantage of physical, life-size reconstructions over digital ones, stating, "The advantage of this kind of reconstruction is that it can be displayed in a museum, it can be viewed from all angles and is totally life-size."
DNA analysis also shed light on the diverse ethnic origins of Aquincum's inhabitants. Findings revealed the presence of individuals not only from the Roman heartland but also from regions as distant as modern-day Scotland and Syria, as well as from nomadic Sarmatian tribes and the indigenous Celts. This diversity reflects Aquincum's position as a multicultural settlement on the empire's edge.
The exhibition aims to imbue the skeletal remains, often treated as mere artifacts, with a sense of life and humanity. By presenting these ancient faces, the Aquincum Museum hopes to foster a connection, emphasizing that despite different living conditions and social statuses, "people are people," as Vass put it, suggesting a fundamental continuity in the human experience across history.