Reproduced face of a woman who lived 10,500 years ago

▲ Mos'anne's face was reconstructed with astonishing realism using bones containing a large amount of preserved DNA. Photo taken from the Dutch paleoartists' website.

AFP

La Jornada Newspaper, Thursday, July 31, 2025, p. 6

Arnhem. With her clear blue eyes and shy expression, the reconstructed bust of Mos'anne—a woman who lived 10,500 years ago—is surprisingly lifelike.

Reborn through a close collaboration between science and art, the Mos'anne bust was created at Ghent University in Belgium as part of a project to explore how the region's last hunter-gatherers lived during the Mesolithic period.

Part of the project also involves understanding the genetics of these people, learning about their family ties, and, above all, being able to translate the science we do to a wider audience , Isabelle de Groote, the project's principal investigator, explained to AFP.

Scientists chose the skull of Mos'anne—named by popular vote in reference to the Meuse Valley in Belgium—for the reconstruction because it was exceptionally well preserved.

The bones contained a large amount of preserved DNA, allowing the woman—who was between 35 and 60 years old at the time of her death—to be reconstructed with astonishing realism.

We also know that in Mesolithic times, she genetically belonged to the western hunter-gatherer group , De Groote said.

Using genetic testing, researchers were able to determine the skin and eye color of Mesolithic women.

"This group is known for having very dark skin and blue eyes, a bit like Cheddar Man in Britain," he noted, referring to the individual who lived in the United Kingdom 10,000 years ago, whose skeleton was discovered in 1903.

Mixed emotions

Mos'anne's DNA revealed valuable clues about her appearance, but it was the unique skills of Dutch paleoartists Alfons and Adrie Kennis that brought her back to life.

After receiving guidance from the researchers—including instructions to use ochre pigment for Mos'anne's headband—the twin brothers began their work.

They molded the skull, meticulously sculpted each facial muscle in clay, and attached the final decorative feather.

The most important part of reconstruction is creating a character , Alfons commented from his studio in Arnhem.

You can do a forensic reconstruction, use the data, apply the muscles, the skin, but you don't get a character , Kennis insisted regarding the artistic process.

The Kennis brothers – whose surname means knowledge in Dutch – take approximately six months to complete a reconstruction.

They achieved worldwide recognition in the 2000s, with their work exhibited in museums around the world and published in specialized magazines.

The twins, fascinated by evolution and visual art since childhood, are inspired by archival anthropological images of the first encounters between isolated populations and researchers.

In that first encounter, there's nervousness and shyness. People laugh, perhaps because they're nervous , Kennis commented.

When a prehistoric ancestor sees you for the first time, you see those mixed emotions, and that's what we want to show , he stressed.

Much about Mos'anne remains a mystery. In Ghent, researchers are still analyzing what she ate.

With her headband adorned with duck feathers, her golden skin, and pierced animal teeth dangling from her ears and necklace, prehistoric woman seems closer to us today than ever.

Sputnik

La Jornada Newspaper, Thursday, July 31, 2025, p. 6

Moscow. Professor Michelle Doherty has become the first woman in history to be appointed Astronomer Royal of the United Kingdom, the Telegraph reports.

For the first time in history, a woman has been appointed England's Astronomer Royal. Professor Michelle Doherty will assume this prestigious position following the retirement of Lord Martin Rees, who held the post for 30 years , the newspaper writes.

Michelle Doherty is an astrophysicist at Imperial College London. She studies the interaction of the magnetic fields of Saturn and Jupiter. Her work contributed to the discovery of water vapor around Enceladus, a moon of Saturn, demonstrating the possibility of life there. She also collaborated on the launch of robotic interplanetary probes to Jupiter and its moons.

In this position, I hope to show the general public how fascinating astronomy is and the importance of its discoveries to everyday life , she was quoted as saying by the publication.

The title of Royal Astronomer designates the country's leading specialist in the field of space exploration. The position was created in 1675, and at that time, its function was to advise the king on maritime navigation using the stars. Gradually, the position acquired a ceremonial character, and it is currently responsible for informing the monarch about new astronomical discoveries.