Meet the man whose face was hidden under plaster for 9,500 years.
In short: Curator Alexandra Fletcher explores the Jericho Skull, a human skull from an ancient city that may be the oldest portrait in the British Museum. Modern technology has finally allowed researchers to look past the plaster and reveal the face of this mysterious individual.
Discovered in 1953, the Jericho Skull remained an enigma for decades. The artifact features a human skull covered in a layer of plaster, serving as an early form of facial reconstruction. By applying modern techniques like CT scanning and 3D printing, researchers have been able to uncover the identity and appearance of the man behind the mask.
This project was highlighted in an exhibition titled 'Creating an ancestor: the Jericho Skull,' which ran from 15 December 2016 to 19 February 2017 in Room 3 of the British Museum.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: The oldest portrait in the British Museum (probably) | Curator's Corner S2 Ep1 #CuratorsCorner
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