Face of 2,000-year-old Roman man reconstructed in Scotland

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 20 Oct, 08:32 · Archive

Scientists have reconstructed the face of a man who died near Edinburgh almost 2,000 years ago using DNA analysis and other techniques.

An international team of experts has reconstructed the face of a man who died at Inveresk, near Edinburgh, sometime between AD 140 and 165. Using cutting-edge scientific techniques including genetic analysis, they determined that the man was in his early 50s when he died and was originally from southern Britain, having travelled hundreds of miles to reach the Roman frontier.

Analysis of his skeleton revealed details about his life. He suffered several injuries during his lifetime, including a broken nose which had healed and septic arthritis around his right elbow joint that limited the use of his arm. Experts determined he was not a soldier at the time of his death, as his injuries would have prevented him from swinging a sword.

The skull and digital facial reconstruction will be displayed in the exhibition Roman Scotland: Life On The Edge Of Empire, which opens at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh next month. Dr Fraser Hunter, principal curator of prehistory and Roman archaeology at National Museums Scotland, said the reconstruction gives a sense of what one of Inveresk's inhabitants looked like.

How it is being reported

• Face of man who died on Roman frontier in East Lothian revealed in reconstruction ahead of Edinburgh exhibitionThe man’s skull will be on display as part of a new exhibition which opens at the National Museum of Scotland next monthEdinburgh Evening News · 20 Oct, 12:28
• 2,000-year-old East Lothian Roman man's face reconstructed after skull found'We can investigate where these men had travelled from to reach the frontier, what they were doing there and what became of them'Edinburgh Live · 20 Oct, 08:01

In this story: Inveresk · Edinburgh · Scotland · National Museum of Scotland · Firth of Forth · Dr Fraser Hunter · National Museums Scotland

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