Coming to terms with facial reproduction

Area of Science:

• Forensic Anthropology
• Forensic Art

Background:

• The identification of unknown human remains frequently involves creating facial approximations.
• Current terminology for this process is inconsistent and often overlaps with other forensic contexts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the ambiguity in terminology used for creating facial approximations from skulls.
• To propose a precise and unique term for this forensic procedure.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing terminology used in forensic facial approximation.
• Analysis of the specific meanings and applications of terms like reconstitution, reconstruction, restoration, death mask, moulage, and sculpture within forensic science.

Main Results:

• Multiple terms, including reconstitution, reconstruction, restoration, death mask, moulage, and sculpture, are already established in forensic science with different meanings.
• These existing terms create confusion when applied to the process of building faces on skulls for identification.

Conclusions:

• The term "facial reproduction" is suggested as a novel and precise alternative.
• "Facial reproduction" is recommended to enhance clarity and avoid confusion in forensic identification procedures.