FACIAL RECONSTRUCTION

An artist's view by Gay Malin, New York State Museum Preparator
A project of the New York State Museum with funding from the
New York State Department of Transportation

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During an archaeological excavation in downtown Albany, New York, members of the Cultural Resource Survey Program, headed by Charles Fisher, Ph.D, were surprised to discover the remains of three adult skeletons in an abandoned Lutheran cemetery. Only one of these had a skull with enough bone to make a facial reconstruction possible.

It is fascinating to watch the process of facial reconstruction take place. To go from bone to flesh and look at an individual who lived 300 years ago is complex...part forensic science, part archaeology, part artistry, and a healthy dose of magic. I hope to take you on that journey on this website. I am happy to answer any questions you might have. Just send me an e-mail.

• The Process: Part 1: Reconstructing the skull and gathering information from the bones
  

• The Process: Part 2: Method I: Tissue Depth Markers
  
• The Process: Part 3: Method II: Anatomical Model
  
• The Process: Part 4: Sculpting the head: Part I
  
• The Process: Part 5: Sculpting the head: Part II
  
• The Process: Part 6: Sculpting the head: Part III
  
• The Process: Part 5: Pearl lives!

  Photography by Greg Troupe

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