Sunshine on (a skull from) Leith: Craniofacial Reconstruction of a Fragmented Archaeological Specimen

This project involved the 3D scanning and 3D digital reconstruction of a fragmented archaeological specimen (SK151) from the 14th-18th Century, excavated as part of the City of Edinburgh Tramline Project (Constitution Road, Leith). The project was completed with the kind permission of The City of Edinburgh Council Archaeology Service (CECAS). A biological assessment of the skull was performed (age, sex, and ancestry determination), with the fragmented skull then repaired using a specialist haptic arm in the 3D sculpting software, Geomagic Freeform. The skull was then 3D-printed and facially reconstructed in accordance with scientific standards and principles associated with 3D manual craniofacial approximation, with further texturing and animation of the face applied in 2D using Adobe Photoshop.

Outputs included an academic report, and a combined 3D digital, 3D manual, and 2D digital craniofacial reconstruction, further included in an exhibition of forensic and medical art (‘Identity and Anatomy’) at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design (DJCAD) in June 2024.