Ötzi

"The power of Iceman lies in his eerie preservation and in the fact that he was, like most of us, an ordinary human being, nothing more, nothing less. We look back—and we see ourselves."

The Iceman has been given a makeover. The mummified face of "Ötzi " (2nd image) has been restored (1st image) so we can see what he looked like when he was alive c. 3300 B.C.

The reconstruction was done by Dutch artists Alfons Kennis and Adrie Kennis based on forensic mapping technology that uses 3D, infrared, and tomographic images of the skull. In the new image, the approximately 45-year-old man appears prematurely aged, with deep-set eyes (brown, not blue as previously thought), sunken cheeks, a furrowed face, and ungroomed beard and hair. The Iceman is estimated to have stood 5' 3" tall and weighed 110lbs.

Facial reproduction is based scientifically on average tissue depth, but is subject to artistic interpretation, particularly in the areas of the nose, the ears, and the hair. It has been done by sculpting over the skull (or a model of it), but can now also be done digitally. Previous reconstructions and artistic interpretations of Ötzi include a work by British artist Marilène Oliver; American forensic sculptor Frank Bender; the Museum Bélesta in Ariège, France; and Scotland Yard. The latest model will go on display in March at the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology in Bolzano, Italy, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the mummy’s discovery.

Ötzi's discovery has given rise to a contemporary version of the "mummy's curse," including the 4/18/05 death of German archaeologist Konrad Spindler, who excavated the Iceman in 1991. Spindler died from complications of multiple sclerosis.

Follow-ups

Whales, articulated and dismantled My first follower Angie linked me to her ex-husband Grant's website because he wrote the score for a documentary about humpback whales. And Megan forwarded this link from Monday about the disposal of a dead whale on a Delaware beach (they harvested the skull and buried the body).
.
The house that May (re)built Follower Kent writes, "I loved the post about May Savidge. I have an ongoing interest in the amazing things that people can accomplish when they are devoted to a cause over a long period of time." He also suggests I consider allowing comments on the site - I may at some point, but until I do, readers are welcome to e-mail me!
.
The art of David Teniers the Younger After seeing my post on Teniers' monkey paintings, my Mom pointed out that it was fashionable to upholster Chippendale couches in monkey print fabric, and I found an example here.
.
Giraffe evolution Shortly after this post, an anecdote about the remarkable memory of giraffes appeared in the news.

.

Face transplant A second face transplant has already been performed in the U.S., on a 59-year-old man who was disfigured in an accident in a Boston subway station.

Autotomy If the video of the wriggling detached lizard tail gave you the creeps, this newly posted video of a Chinese speed-cooking contest will really make your skin crawl!
.
Robo-animals Here's another story about an animal outfitted with a customized prosthetic - this time a turtle now named "Tonka" for obvious reasons!
.
Seahorses and sea dragons Scientists have pieced together how seahorses evolved to swim standing up. In another story, a seahorse has been saved after being dropped 3 miles inland by a seagull.
.
Poisonous plants Friends Megan and Erin pointed out this article about a garden of poisonous plants cultivated by the author of a new book.

Disturbingly young parents DNA tests have proven that 12-year-old Alfie Patten did not impregnate his girlfriend Chantelle Stedman. Instead, her baby Maisie was fathered by a boy who was 14 at the time.
.
.
Killer chimpanzees Two new developments in the mauling of Charla Nash: 1) Stamford, Conn., police have confirmed the presence of Xanax in the animal's system before the attack, and 2) A judge has frozen $10 million in assets belonging to the chimp's owner, since the Nash family is suing her for $50 million.
.
Frank Buckland Researchers have decoded the genetic mutations responsible for the rare condition of "bearded lady" Julia Pastrana, who is mentioned and pictured in this post.

Facial reconstruction

Facial reconstruction--or as some prefer, facial reproduction--is benefitting from modern technology. As important as it can be forensically (for instance, helping identify a mutilated or skeletonized victim), it is fascinating to see historic and prehistoric faces brought to life from their skulls or mummies:

A bog body known as the Yde Girl has been reconstructed to show what she may have looked like when she was alive.

A skull with battle wounds was reconstructed and believed to be Philip II of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great, but has since proven to be that of Philip's brother.

A reproduction of King Tuthankhamun's face, made when his mummy underwent a CT-scan in 2005, can be compared with his face, which has been put on display for the first time.