Researchers Digitally Reveal Faces of Four Ancient Colombian Mummies

Researchers have digitally unmasked and reconstructed the faces of four pre-Hispanic Colombian mummies dating from the 13th to 18th centuries, including a child, an older woman, and two young men. Using advanced CT scans, the team created detailed 3D models of the skulls beneath the wax, clay, resin, and maize death masks, which were then virtually removed without disturbing the remains. Facial reconstruction was achieved through specialized software and haptic tools, adding muscles, fat, and skin based on anatomical data primarily from modern Colombian populations, while adapting methods for the child and woman due to lack of direct datasets. The faces were given regionally accurate skin, hair, and eye colors, with attention to realistic texture, pores, and wrinkles, though the exact facial details remain an average representation due to unknown individual variations. This non-invasive approach not only preserves the delicate remains but also reveals new insights into the indigenous cultural practices surrounding death and burial in the Colombian Andes. The findings were presented at the World Congress on Mummy Studies in Peru, highlighting the extraordinary craftsmanship of the masks and shedding light on Colombia's ancient peoples.