Rekonstruktion des Antlitzes des späten Archanthropus aus der Höhle von Arago (Frankreich)

Professor M.M. Gerasimov's method, modified by the author according to our new data on the relations between morphological traits of the face and the skull, was used to reconstruct the face of the late Homo erectus Arago XXI, Tautavel, France.

The reconstruction was based on a plaster cast of the skull. Its examination revealed a considerable postmortem deformation. Additional remolding of the cast was therefore performed in order to overcome the consequences of post-mortem deformation. Whenever possible, bones of the face were adjusted to their anatomical position.

The reconstruction of the missing mandible was done using correlations between mandibular dimensions and upper facial structures in a sample of archaic Homo sapiens crania. Earlier finds could not be used because of their fragmentary nature. However, there are reasons to believe that Neanderthals, being descendents of the late Homo erectus, were morphologically similar to them. Traits were found showing a high degree of interdependence. Indices were calculated and used to reconstruct the mandible.

Principal stages of the reconstruction process of the skull will be demonstrated, with a brief description of the reconstruction techniques.