Positive or Circumstantial?
There are two way of identification in facial reconstruction.
Positive identification- When a unique set of biological characteristics of an individual are matched
with a set of skeletal remains. This type of identification requires the
skeletal remains to correspond with medical or dental records
Circumstantial identification- When an individual fits the biological profile of a set of skeletal remains.
This type of identification does not prove or verify identity because any number
of individuals may fit the same biological description
Positive identification- When a unique set of biological characteristics of an individual are matched
with a set of skeletal remains. This type of identification requires the
skeletal remains to correspond with medical or dental records
Circumstantial identification- When an individual fits the biological profile of a set of skeletal remains.
This type of identification does not prove or verify identity because any number
of individuals may fit the same biological description
Two-dimensional reconstructions
Two-dimensional facial reconstructions are based on ante mortem photographs, and the skull. F.A.C.E. and C.A.R.E.S. computer software programs quickly produce
two-dimensional facial approximations that can be edited and manipulated with
relative ease.
two-dimensional facial approximations that can be edited and manipulated with
relative ease.
Three-dimensional reconstructions
Three-dimensional facial reconstructions are either: 1) sculptures (made from
casts of cranial remains) created with modelling clay and
other materials or 2) high-resolution, three-dimensional computer images.
casts of cranial remains) created with modelling clay and
other materials or 2) high-resolution, three-dimensional computer images.
How do they do it?
The skull is the basis of facial reconstruction;
however, other physical remains that are sometimes available often prove to be
valuable. Occasionally, remnants of soft tissue are found on a set of remains.
Through close inspection, the forensic artist can easily approximate the
thickness of the soft tissue over the remaining areas of the skull based on the
presence of these tissues. This eliminates one of the most difficult aspects of
reconstruction, the estimation of tissue thickness. Additionally, any other
bodily or physical evidence found in association with remains (e.g. jewellery,
hair, glasses, etc.) are vital to the final stages of reconstruction because
they directly reflect the appearance of the individual in question.
Once the examination is complete, the skull is cleaned and any damaged or
fragmented areas are repaired with wax. The mandible is then reattached, again
with wax, according to the alignment of teeth. Prosthetic eyes are inserted,
and a plaster cast of the skull is prepared. After the cast is set, coloured plastics or the coloured ends of safety matches
are attached at twenty-one specific "landmark" areas and all features are added using modelling clay.
however, other physical remains that are sometimes available often prove to be
valuable. Occasionally, remnants of soft tissue are found on a set of remains.
Through close inspection, the forensic artist can easily approximate the
thickness of the soft tissue over the remaining areas of the skull based on the
presence of these tissues. This eliminates one of the most difficult aspects of
reconstruction, the estimation of tissue thickness. Additionally, any other
bodily or physical evidence found in association with remains (e.g. jewellery,
hair, glasses, etc.) are vital to the final stages of reconstruction because
they directly reflect the appearance of the individual in question.
Once the examination is complete, the skull is cleaned and any damaged or
fragmented areas are repaired with wax. The mandible is then reattached, again
with wax, according to the alignment of teeth. Prosthetic eyes are inserted,
and a plaster cast of the skull is prepared. After the cast is set, coloured plastics or the coloured ends of safety matches
are attached at twenty-one specific "landmark" areas and all features are added using modelling clay.
First, the facial muscles are layered onto the cast, Next, the nose and lips are reconstructed before any of the other muscles are
formed. The lips are approximately as wide as the interpupillary distance.
However, this distance varies significantly with age, sex, race, and occlusion.
The nose is one of the most difficult facial features to reconstruct because the
underlying bone is limited. The muscles of facial expression and the soft tissue around the eyes are added
next. Additional measurements are made according to race (especially for those
with eye folds characteristic of Asian descent) during this stage. Next, tissues
are built up to within one millimetre of the tissue thickness markers and the
ears (noted as being extremely complicated to reproduce) are added. Finally, the
face is "fleshed," meaning clay is added until the tissue thickness markers are
covered, and any specific characterization is added (for example, hair, wrinkles
in the skin, noted racial traits, glasses, etc.)
formed. The lips are approximately as wide as the interpupillary distance.
However, this distance varies significantly with age, sex, race, and occlusion.
The nose is one of the most difficult facial features to reconstruct because the
underlying bone is limited. The muscles of facial expression and the soft tissue around the eyes are added
next. Additional measurements are made according to race (especially for those
with eye folds characteristic of Asian descent) during this stage. Next, tissues
are built up to within one millimetre of the tissue thickness markers and the
ears (noted as being extremely complicated to reproduce) are added. Finally, the
face is "fleshed," meaning clay is added until the tissue thickness markers are
covered, and any specific characterization is added (for example, hair, wrinkles
in the skin, noted racial traits, glasses, etc.)
facial reconstruction used through history.
![Picture](/uploads/2/2/9/2/22926786/4481597.jpg?406)
The face of Mary, Queen of Scots, as she would have looked at the time of her
reign, has been brought back to life by a team of experts from the University of
Dundee
![Picture](/uploads/2/2/9/2/22926786/2575050.jpg?384)
A reconstruction of Otzi the Iceman -- a remarkably well preserved
5,300-year-old mummy sometimes lovingly called "Frozen Frit"
![Picture](/uploads/2/2/9/2/22926786/1759924.jpg?501)
Richard III was king of England, but for centuries he lay without shroud or
coffin in an unknown grave. A newly released facial reconstruction reveals what the long lost king would
have looked liked .
![Picture](/uploads/2/2/9/2/22926786/5254837.jpg?267)
Professional forensic artist Victoria Lywood worked with a team of researchers
to create 3D models of three ancient Egyptian mummies. This model is of a woman
who died around the age of 20 nearly 2000 years ago.
![Picture](/uploads/2/2/9/2/22926786/1283289.jpg?260)
This face of the notorious killer jack the ripper is a reconstruction based on a description of German merchant seaman Carl Feigenbaum.
Case study: Wes Neville.
On August 8th, 2000, skeletal remains were located in a wooded area near
Steinhatchee, Florida (Taylor County). Traditional methods for identifying the
remains were exhausted, and in February, 2004, an Investigator
with the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office (FL) contacted me about possibly
sculpting a facial reconstruction/approximation for their John Doe.
Due to trauma caused by a .38 calibre bullet, the left half of the
maxilla, was missing, as well as portions of both orbits, and the nasal
opening.
The nasal bone was unique, and considered a possible excellent identifier.
Although the nasal spine was not present on the skull, the base of the nasal
opening had a noticeable downward slope. In addition, the bone between the nasal
spine and the teeth was straight vertically with no curvature; this in itself
would result in a “uniqueness” in the victim’s appearance.
Taking these factors
into consideration along with the victim’s approximate age and the length of the
nasal bone and the way it extended abnormally forward led me to believe the
victim’s nose would have a noticeable downward slope with a noticeable drop off
from the nasal bone. I contacted the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s
office about my findings and the onsite Anthropologist agreed.
Steinhatchee, Florida (Taylor County). Traditional methods for identifying the
remains were exhausted, and in February, 2004, an Investigator
with the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office (FL) contacted me about possibly
sculpting a facial reconstruction/approximation for their John Doe.
Due to trauma caused by a .38 calibre bullet, the left half of the
maxilla, was missing, as well as portions of both orbits, and the nasal
opening.
The nasal bone was unique, and considered a possible excellent identifier.
Although the nasal spine was not present on the skull, the base of the nasal
opening had a noticeable downward slope. In addition, the bone between the nasal
spine and the teeth was straight vertically with no curvature; this in itself
would result in a “uniqueness” in the victim’s appearance.
Taking these factors
into consideration along with the victim’s approximate age and the length of the
nasal bone and the way it extended abnormally forward led me to believe the
victim’s nose would have a noticeable downward slope with a noticeable drop off
from the nasal bone. I contacted the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s
office about my findings and the onsite Anthropologist agreed.
Originally, investigators entered the somewhat generic
parameters of their doe into NCIC, and 15,800 possibilities came back. The task
seemed overwhelming.
In the summer of 2004, a civilian noticed a likeness between the facial
reconstruction posted online with that of missing person “Larry F.” listed
on the NYPD Missing Persons website. The approximate time of death, time the
person went missing, and physical stature were consistent with the skeletal
remains, thus increasing the belief that the two were one and the same.
The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office and the NYPD Missing Person Unit were contacted
about the possible match. Both sides agreed to pursue the possible match. When
the brother of the deceased saw the reconstruction, he left little question that
they were, in fact, looking at his brother who disappeared in January, 1999.
Dental records matched, but authorities wanted
definitive confirmation through the use of DNA. On December 27, 2004, the
results came back with a positive.
In early 2005, the brother
provided updated photos of his brother stating that “the reconstruction looked
more like his brother than the image NYPD had on the missing person’s site.”
The uniqueness of the nose was apparent in the new photos of the
victim.
parameters of their doe into NCIC, and 15,800 possibilities came back. The task
seemed overwhelming.
In the summer of 2004, a civilian noticed a likeness between the facial
reconstruction posted online with that of missing person “Larry F.” listed
on the NYPD Missing Persons website. The approximate time of death, time the
person went missing, and physical stature were consistent with the skeletal
remains, thus increasing the belief that the two were one and the same.
The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office and the NYPD Missing Person Unit were contacted
about the possible match. Both sides agreed to pursue the possible match. When
the brother of the deceased saw the reconstruction, he left little question that
they were, in fact, looking at his brother who disappeared in January, 1999.
Dental records matched, but authorities wanted
definitive confirmation through the use of DNA. On December 27, 2004, the
results came back with a positive.
In early 2005, the brother
provided updated photos of his brother stating that “the reconstruction looked
more like his brother than the image NYPD had on the missing person’s site.”
The uniqueness of the nose was apparent in the new photos of the
victim.
still wanting more?
A short film giving a basic insight into facial reconstruction: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VF1cVAb0J2Q&feature=player_detailpage
a long, extensive film giving a in-depth insight into facial reconstruction: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=6G0LvImAGAg
a long, extensive film giving a in-depth insight into facial reconstruction: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=6G0LvImAGAg