Scientists from Ghent University (UGent) and artists a reconstruction of the face and the living environment of a prehistoric woman. The woman lived in the valley of the River Meuse in Namur Province around 10,000 years ago. The public got a first opportunity to see the reconstructions at a presentation at Dinant in Namur Province on Monday.
The reconstructions are part of a travelling exhibition and the public is invited to choose a name for the woman. The woman’s remains were found in 1988 inside the Margaux Cave near Dinant. Scientists from UGent and artists from the Kennis & Kennis reconstruction studio reconstructed the woman’s face based on anatomical, genetic and archaeological research.
She turned out to be related to Western European hunter-gatherers. Like England’s Cheddar Man she had blue eyes. However, her skin was slightly lighter in colour than many of her contemporaries. The chief geneticist working on the project is Dr Maïté Rivollat of the project told journalists that “This indicates that there was a greater diversity in skin pigmentation than we previously thought.”
The woman’s living environment was accurately reconstructed based on archaeological data and scientific models. Campsites, hunting techniques and modes of transport bring the world of more than 10,000 years ago back to life.
Choice of 3 names
The reconstruction is part of a travelling exhibition called ‘Face to Face with Prehistory’. The exhibition will tour Belgium and the Netherlands from August. In the meantime, the general public is invited to choose a name for the woman. They can choose from 3 options Margo, Freya or Mos'anne.
The first name refers to the cave in which the woman’s remains were found. Freya is a reference to the hills in which the cave is located and Mos'anne to the French name for the Meuse river basin. Those that wish to vote have until the end of this month to do so on the www.roam-ugent.be website.