MINSK, 4 February (BelTA) - Belarusian scientists have reconstructed the face of a miner who lived 4,500 years ago as part of the new study titled “The Population of Belarus. An Album in Faces, A Look into the Past” which was presented in Minsk on 4 February, BelTA has learned.
The new publication was prepared by the Institute of History at the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus and the N.N. Miklukho-Maklai Institute of Anthropology and Ethnography at the Russian Academy of Sciences. It is a fundamental work in anthropology, presenting a wealth of illustrative and research material about the population of the Belarusian lands.
“We conduct research at many sites, including burial complexes. Anthropological materials are being uncovered, providing us with a wealth of data. It is important for us to see what our distant ancestors looked like in different historical periods: from the Stone Age to the Middle Ages. This book reconstructs 26 individuals from 23 locations across Belarus and from different historical periods. Science allows us to reconstruct physical appearance based on skeletal remains, the skull,” said Vadim Lakiza, Director of the Institute of History at the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus.
Such materials can be utilized across various fields: education, culture, and tourism. “For example, in Volkovysk District, there is a unique site included in the list of national archaeological projects. It is associated with the oldest preserved skull and skeletal materials of a miner we have (4,500 years ago). A sculptor previously created a bust of this miner, and now, with new data, we did a facial reconstruction. When we discussed the possibility of creating a museum at this archaeological complex, I showed what this ancient miner, who worked at the Krasnoselsk flint mining shafts, looked like," noted the institute director.
The experts have also completed the facial reconstruction of a rural inhabitant from the Stviga-Ubort interfluve in the Pripyat Polesie region (Lelchitsy District, Gomel Oblast), a female resident of the Gorodishche settlement on the Menka River (Minsk District), and rural inhabitants from the upper Berezina River area (Dokshitsy District, Vitebsk Oblast.
In Dyatlovo District, there is an interesting site, a hillfort dating back to around the end of the Bronze Age. Several years ago, modern research was conducted there. At the site, a 13th-14th century flat-grave cemetery was discovered, containing well-preserved skeletal material and artifacts. The facial reconstruction of a female resident of the village has been successfully completed.
Research was also conducted at the Christian cemetery in Belynichy, which was in use from the turn of the 16th-17th centuries until the 19th century. “We obtained unique materials there. The physical appearance of the inhabitants of Belynichy, both men and women who were buried in that cemetery, has been reconstructed. Modern methods also allow us to visualize what their clothing looked like,” Vadim Lakiza noted.
Two years of work on the project have been underpinned by archaeology (finds from 23 sites across Belarus), anthropology and genetics (DNA analysis, tooth structure, skeletal remains), radiocarbon dating for precise age determination, digital technologies and elements of artificial intelligence for facial reconstruction and also the talent of restoration artists and sculptors.
“Work has begun on updating the content with new materials and preparing a reprint of this book. We are also planning to publish smaller books, popular science editions about the population of Grodno Oblast, Vitebsk Oblast and so on. We will consider how to approach this to make the books engaging and informative, tying them to specific historical dates,” Vadim Lakiza said.
The new publication was prepared by the Institute of History at the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus and the N.N. Miklukho-Maklai Institute of Anthropology and Ethnography at the Russian Academy of Sciences. It is a fundamental work in anthropology, presenting a wealth of illustrative and research material about the population of the Belarusian lands.
“We conduct research at many sites, including burial complexes. Anthropological materials are being uncovered, providing us with a wealth of data. It is important for us to see what our distant ancestors looked like in different historical periods: from the Stone Age to the Middle Ages. This book reconstructs 26 individuals from 23 locations across Belarus and from different historical periods. Science allows us to reconstruct physical appearance based on skeletal remains, the skull,” said Vadim Lakiza, Director of the Institute of History at the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus.
Such materials can be utilized across various fields: education, culture, and tourism. “For example, in Volkovysk District, there is a unique site included in the list of national archaeological projects. It is associated with the oldest preserved skull and skeletal materials of a miner we have (4,500 years ago). A sculptor previously created a bust of this miner, and now, with new data, we did a facial reconstruction. When we discussed the possibility of creating a museum at this archaeological complex, I showed what this ancient miner, who worked at the Krasnoselsk flint mining shafts, looked like," noted the institute director.
The experts have also completed the facial reconstruction of a rural inhabitant from the Stviga-Ubort interfluve in the Pripyat Polesie region (Lelchitsy District, Gomel Oblast), a female resident of the Gorodishche settlement on the Menka River (Minsk District), and rural inhabitants from the upper Berezina River area (Dokshitsy District, Vitebsk Oblast.
In Dyatlovo District, there is an interesting site, a hillfort dating back to around the end of the Bronze Age. Several years ago, modern research was conducted there. At the site, a 13th-14th century flat-grave cemetery was discovered, containing well-preserved skeletal material and artifacts. The facial reconstruction of a female resident of the village has been successfully completed.
Research was also conducted at the Christian cemetery in Belynichy, which was in use from the turn of the 16th-17th centuries until the 19th century. “We obtained unique materials there. The physical appearance of the inhabitants of Belynichy, both men and women who were buried in that cemetery, has been reconstructed. Modern methods also allow us to visualize what their clothing looked like,” Vadim Lakiza noted.
The physical appearance of people who once lived in the Nesvizh area has also been reconstructed.
Two years of work on the project have been underpinned by archaeology (finds from 23 sites across Belarus), anthropology and genetics (DNA analysis, tooth structure, skeletal remains), radiocarbon dating for precise age determination, digital technologies and elements of artificial intelligence for facial reconstruction and also the talent of restoration artists and sculptors.
“Work has begun on updating the content with new materials and preparing a reprint of this book. We are also planning to publish smaller books, popular science editions about the population of Grodno Oblast, Vitebsk Oblast and so on. We will consider how to approach this to make the books engaging and informative, tying them to specific historical dates,” Vadim Lakiza said.
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