Superimposition and reconstruction in forensic facial identification: a survey

Forensic facial reconstruction, is the reproduction of the lost or unknown facial features of an individual, for the purposes of recognition and identification. It is generally accepted that facial reconstruction can be divided into four categories: (1) replacing and repositioning damaged or distorted soft tissues onto a skull; (2) the use of photographic transparencies and drawings in an identikit-type system; (3) the technique of graphic, photographic or video superimposition; (4) plastic or three-dimensional reconstruction of a face over a skull, using modelling clay. This paper sets out to review work done on both superimposition and plastic reconstruction, however, the authors believe that only the latter category can correctly be termed facial reconstruction. The survey is divided according to work done through anthropological evaluation of the skull, clinical examination and dissection of the soft tissues, as well as methods of measuring soft tissue thicknesses using tissue puncture, ultrasound, cephalometric radiography and magnetic resonance imaging. In addition, a method of the combined use of ultrasound and radiography to collect a wider range of facial soft tissue depths and a method of producing skull and face profiles are outlined.