Ancient Human Face Reconstructed Digitally for First Time
A digital reconstruction offers a glimpse of what one of the earliest Homo sapiens, who lived approximately 315,000 years ago in Morocco, may have looked like.
Scientists have digitally reconstructed the face of an ancient human ancestor who lived around 315,000 years ago in what is now Morocco. The reconstruction provides a detailed visual representation of Homo sapiens at their earliest known stage.
The fossil fragments used for the reconstruction were discovered at the Jebel Irhoud mineral extraction site in Morocco. Initially believed to belong to an African Neanderthal and dated to about 40,000 years ago, subsequent research in 2017 revised the age to approximately 315,000 years and identified the remains as belonging to Homo sapiens.
This makes the Jebel Irhoud fossils the oldest known evidence attributed to our species. The reconstruction was based on a three-dimensional composite skull derived from the site.
To create the digital representation, researchers combined scans, photographs, and video footage of the skull fragment, known as Irhoud 1, with nearby jawbone and tooth fossils. This data was used to build a detailed 3D model of the skull.
A modern human anatomical template was then digitally adapted to match the fossil's shape. Layers of muscle, fat, and skin were added to estimate the individual's appearance.
Two versions of the face were produced: a grayscale scientific reconstruction highlighting the skull's anatomy, and a more lifelike color portrait. The latter includes estimated skin color, hair, and facial hair.
Researchers acknowledged that the more realistic reconstruction involved artistic interpretation. Features like skin tone, hair, and beard were based on anthropological research into ancient and modern human populations in North Africa, aiming for a plausible representation.
They also noted that the fossil fragments likely came from multiple individuals, meaning the digital models do not represent any single person exactly.
The study was led by 3D reconstruction expert Cícero Moraes.