New hens not going into Eglu Go Up

[soapdragon]

Having enjoyed the prog. on Richard III last evening I found the facial reconstruction at the end fascinating. I love these reconstructions and they seem to appear with great regularity on progs. like History Cold Case, Time Team etc. They are like an amazing window into the past BUT...how acccurate are they in reality?

 

It is always explained that the actual skull shape dictates the reconstruction but also that 'average' muscle depths are used. So, whilst it is obviously its impossible to say exactly how true to life these are given the use of 'average' muscle depth, I did wonder if there have been any reconstructions done where the person is either still alive or a clear picture exists for comparison afterwards? If there have been I bet someone somewhere on the Forum knows about it!!!!!

[sjp]

the software is suppost the be based around software the FBI use to ID faces from photos against photo's from criminal records etc.

it has been used to ID bodies were the faces are either to badley damaged or no detail is left. but I think is what's called good enough to jog peoples memory to say I know that person but as to weather it's good enough to stand up in a court of law I'm not sure of

[Snowy]

I can only guess that our faces only change over time as muscle and fat layers are built up and eroded as we age, so presumably adding a thinner layer over the skull would give an older appearance? Just as thicker layers would give a more youthful plumped up appearance, but essentially still the same face

[Bramble]

This doesn't answer your question at all, but I heard an expert in the field say once that the hardest part to handle on a facial reconstruction is the top lip and the "groove" under the nose I guess 'cos it's not attached to bone in the same way as most of the rest of the face. Sorry, this is totally irrelevant to your question, just thought I'd chuck it in for interest!

[soapdragon]

Thanks Bramble! Its something that has intrigued me for a while so its interesting to hear anything relating to the subject!

[Leicester_H]

According to

http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/Richard-III-Family-reunion-difference-Michael/story-18067541-detail/story.html

"The process involved using a computer image of the skull – which had been CT scanned – adding muscle and tissue to the bones to give an accurate likeness of the medieval monarch.

 

"There's less than 2mm of error," said Janice Aitkin, who represented the university at the press conference.

 

"What that means is that when we've tested previous reconstructions against the actual person, the degree of error in the amount of skin and tissue is less than 2mm – which is not enough to change someone's appearance."

 

H

[patsylabrador]

In the Jorvik Centre one of the fishermen (the one on the right, gutting a fish) is a reconstruction of a viking skull. It's very lifelike and weird to think that might be how a real person looked all that time ago. If you see what I mean. Meet The Ancestors is on BBC iPlayer.

[soapdragon]

That has jogged my memory - I loved Meet the Ancestors! History Cold Case always has a reconstruction at the end too. I find these such a window into the past!

 

Sort of on the same subject - ish, am I right in thinking that this series of Time Team is the last one? I suppose they have been going a while and there are limits to the number of Roman villas, Civil War castles, earthworks etc that can be dug and there are endless repeats on freeview channels for those suffering withdrawal symptoms but it will certainly be the end of an era if this is the last (I know there was a bit of a furore about replacing Mick Aston with a young, attractive woman last year!! )