Scientists reconstruct face of 6400 year old woman in Morocco
A team of researchers has digitally reconstructed the face of a woman who lived around 6400 years ago in what is now Morocco, offering a rare glimpse into prehistoric populations in North Africa.
The reconstruction was carried out by Ancestral Whispers using advanced imaging techniques and academic data. The woman’s remains were discovered at the Rouazi Skhirat site, located about 30 kilometers southwest of Rabat. Her skull, identified by scientists as “skh001,” served as the basis for recreating her facial features.
According to the research team, the woman stood about 1.58 meters tall. Genetic analysis revealed that her mitochondrial DNA belonged to the M1a1b haplogroup, a lineage found in parts of Africa and the Middle East. This indicates maternal ancestry linked to populations that moved across these regions thousands of years ago.
Further analysis of her autosomal DNA showed a complex genetic profile. It included ancestry connected to early populations from the Levant, a region that today includes countries such as Lebanon, Syria, and Israel. The presence of Natufian ancestry, linked to one of the earliest known sedentary human groups in the Middle East, points to deep prehistoric connections between North Africa and the eastern Mediterranean.
The woman also carried an Iberomaurusian genetic component, associated with ancient populations native to North Africa. Researchers say this element likely reflects local ancestry from the region where she lived.
Details of the burial provide insight into funerary practices of the time. The woman was found lying on her back, slightly turned to the right, with her body oriented along a north to south axis. Her head tilted forward toward her chest and leaned to the right. Her upper limbs were positioned close to the torso, with the right forearm bent toward the face and the left arm extended toward the pelvis. Her legs were tightly flexed, likely due to the constraints of the burial pit.
Archaeologists also uncovered at least four ceramic vessels in the grave. One intact pot was placed on her pelvis, while others had been deliberately broken and arranged around her abdomen and lower back. Additional fragments found near the chest appear to belong to these same vessels.
The reconstruction adds to a growing body of work that uses forensic science and genetics to better understand early human populations in North Africa and their connections to neighboring regions.
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