The sculptural reconstruction of the face is based on the skull of a man, which was discovered in mound 5 of Aleksandrovsky IV burial ground. This burial ground is the earliest monument of the Bronze Age in the Arkaim valley, located 320 meters from the fortified settlement of Arkaim.
The skull is of the Caucasoid type. Its specific features are the low face (extremely low face and orbit compared to other skulls of the series), small canine fossa, nasal bones with a sharp M-shaped incisure in the rhinal part. They are often found in craniological materials of the Botai and Sintashta cultures. The above-described characteristics suggest a share of the Uraloid anthropological component in the population.
The anthropologist Alexey Nechvaloda carried out a number of skull reconstructions of Bronze Age and Early Iron Age monuments for the exhibition and projects of the “Arkaim” Museum-Reserve. The reconstruction of the physical appearance of people who lived in the distant past begins with the determination of age, sex and individual features of the person under study (traces of past injuries and chronic diseases, deformation of the mouth due to loss of teeth, and age-related changes).
The next stage is the restoration of the external appearance based on the skull. This technique, which continues to be perfected today, was developed by the famous anthropologist Mikhail Gerasimov. He revealed the dependence between the structure of bones and the thickness of muscles on them. The work is completed by reproduction of hairstyle and clothes according to historical data. A mold, removed from the bust, is used to make plaster or plastic copies, and the skull that was used is returned to the repository. Today, the results of research by Mikhail Gerasimov, his students and followers are widely used in museum practice, historical reconstructions, plastic surgery and forensics.
The reconstruction of the skull resulted in the presented sculptural portrait of a man with a Caucasoid face. The short hair combed into a parting on the right side falls to the back of the head. The edges of the garment with a wide vertical neckline are shaped like a coarse cloth. On the neck is a pendant in the form of an animal fang on a thin string.
