What is the scientific purpose of those facial reconstructions of people that lived tens of thousands of years ago?

Question

As far as I can tell, the reconstructions are based on complex factors from the skull and any other available skeletal and biological evidence. But there’s no real way to check it. So, is there some genuine scientific purpose for it?

In: 12

Answer 1

It gets attention for more funding. Most archeological studies need outside funding, none of it is actually profitable

Answer 2

I cannot relate to an ancient skull – it just looks like a ‘thing’ rather than as the remains of a human. Doing a reconstruction shows that the skull was once a real person who ate, breathed and generally lived a life.

So, scientifically, there may or may not be a valid reason for doing it – but it does grab the attention of the general public and, perhaps, makes them more interested in the science. Of course when the public are interested, money for research may be easier to obtain.

Answer 3

It gives context to the remains. When they reconstruct a face, even if there is no way to verify it is 100% the actual face, it still transforms an ancient skull into something recognizable.
That way the scientists and public can conceptualize that they aren’t studying old remains and bone fragments, they are studying an actual person.

Answer 4

I imagine there could be a lotcof useful things learned in the process of figuring out how to do it. Kind of like how professional auto racing serves no intrinsic purpose beyond entertainment, but in figuring out how to make car go vroom tons of useful technology was developed that is used in consumer vehicles.

Answer 5

Granted, the scientific purposes are limited, but it does give researchers a view of what these people looked liked way back then.

Facial reconstruction is done scientifically, taking into account facial musculature and skin thicknesses in current humans in different areas of the face, and applying it to skulls they have found to get a general idea of what yhe person looked like. It could also give away any deformities or possible diseases that may have existed then. It may not make am exact match, but it does give a good idea f what they looked like, and could even age them. It also helps with the media side of attracting people to read something interesting on newsfeeds aside from lopsided politics.