Ancient human ancestors recreated for BBC show

Tweet

London, October 23: Three of our ancient ancestors – Australopithecus Afarensis, Homo Erectus and Neanderthal man – have been recreated as 3D models for a new BBC show.

Created from ancient bones, using 21st century techniques, the lifelike models show in the most forensic detail ever how these ancient ancestors would actually have looked when they walked the earth, the Daily Mail reported.

While Australopithecus Afarensis was an established walker 3.2 million years ago, it was Homo Erectus that shed his body hair while Neanderthal man was the first metrosexual, the programme’s producers claim.

The extraordinary research is unveiled in a new BBC2 series, Prehistoric Autopsy, presented by historians Dr George McGavin and Professor Alice Roberts and screened on consecutive nights this week.

Following the show, the models will be touring museums around the country.

“When you dig things out of the ground, it’s a bit like Silent Witness. You can tell a lot about a skeleton, if you know how to read,” the paper quoted executive producer Jane Aldous as saying.

Using the latest scientific research, a team of anatomists, anthropologists, archaeologists, sculptors and model makers, led by paleoartist Viktor Deak, created our pre-historic ancestors from the fragmented remains of ancient bones.

They recreated a life-size skeleton of the three individuals and built up their muscles with modelling clay before wrapping their bodies in fibreglass to create moulds.

Liquid silicon was then poured into the mould to create lifelike skin texture.

Afterwards they added the finishing touches like hair and eyes.

“Hopefully this is a novel and fresh way of making evolutionary programming,” added Aldous, “which will attract more people to it and make it more accessible” (ANI)