Forensic three-dimensional facial reconstruction: historical review and contemporary developments

Despite varied attempts to achieve standardization in traditional techniques and the promotion of some newly developed ones, facial reconsrruction remains on the threshold between art and science. It is the point at which science ends and the medical illustrator takes over that has led to most reservations over this branch of forensic anthropology. The purpose of this paper is [0 demonstrate that many techniques of facial reconsrruction are prima facie questionable and [0 illustrate some possible solutions to the problems which are currently being explored by the Facial Reconsrruction Project at the Uruversiry of Sheffield (UK). The review includes 15 responses to a questionnaire which was offered to facial reconsrruction experts and related specialists. The use of 3D color laser scanning equipment, collection of tissue depth meJSurements from cr scans and the development of a computer system for 3D forensic facial reconsrruction, are described.