A collaboration between science and art gives life to a woman in the Mesolithic: News

With her clear blue eyes through which a look full of shyness. Furthermore. However, the reproduction of the bust of Mos’anne, a woman who lived on the Belgian side of the Meuse valley 10,500 years ago, seems more true than life.

Fruit of close collaboration between Sciences. However. Therefore, Arts, the bust of Mos’anne was carried out as part of the archaeological research project “a regional perspective on ancient migration” at the Belgian University of Ghent, aimed at understanding how the last hunters of the region lived during the Mesolithic period.

“Part of the project is to understand the genetics of these people. Similarly. to determine their kinship ties and to be able to really translate the science that we make to a wider audience,” ISABELLE de GROOTE, collaboration between science art gives new principal researcher.

The Mos’anne skull. However. whose name collaboration between science art gives referring to the Meuse valley was chosen by public vote, was selected from other remains due to its excellent conservation.

The bones contained a large amount of preserved DNA. Therefore, allowing a realistic reconstruction of this woman between 35 and 60 years old at the time of her death.

“We also know that at the Mesolithic era, it genetically belonged to the group of Western hunters,” continues Ms. Therefore, de Groote.

Using genetic tests, it was possible for researchers to determine the skin color and eyes of the Mesolithic woman.

“This group is known to have very dark skin and blue eyes, a bit like cheddar’s man,” said Ms. De Groote, referring to this man who lived in Great Britain about 10,000 years ago and whose skeleton collaboration between science art gives new was found in 1903.

– “mixed emotions” –

If Mos’anne DNA collaboration between science art gives has provided valuable information on its appearance. it is the singular skills of Alfons and Adrie Kennis, “Paleo-artists” Dutch, which have revived it.

After receiving the instructions from researchers. especially on the use of the ocher pigment on the Mos’anne banner. the twins were able to start their work, from the skull molding to the last decorative feather, via a careful reconstruction of each facial muscle with clay.

“Most of the reconstruction is to create a character. ” explains Alfons Kennis. in the workshop seeming to get straight out of Charles Darwin’s brain which he shares with his twin brother in Arnhem, in the Netherlands.

“You will have a medico-legal reconstruction by using data. applying the muscles, applying the skin, you will not get collaboration between science art gives new a character!” he continues.

The Kennis brothers. whose family name means “knowledge” in Dutch, take about six months collaboration between science art gives to make a reproduction.

They acquired global notoriety in their field from the 2000s, their work having been exposed in museums around the world.

Passionate about evolution. plastic arts since childhood. twins have been inspired in particular by images of anthropological archives showing the first interactions between isolated populations and researchers.

“During the first meetings, you see nervousness, timidity. People laugh a lot, perhaps nervous,” explains Mr. Kennis.

“When a prehistoric ancestor meets you for the first time, you feel these mixed emotions … It is a transition from these emotions that we want to show,” he concludes.

There is still a lot to learn about Mos’anne. In Ghent, the team of researchers collaboration between science art gives new still analyzes its isotopic signature to determine what its diet was.

But with her headband dotted with duck feathers. her golden skin. reproduction collaboration between science art gives has brought the prehistoric woman closer to the present as never before.

“It has always been a kind of wish for me. to be able to make it more tangible in a certain way,” says Ms. De Groote.

Posted on July 28 at 9:56 a.m., AFP

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