Facial reconstruction: how reliable is it?

Introduction: Facial reconstruction always focused the attention of several studies on statistical data utilized, techniques’effectiveness and scientifical reliability; therefore it’s necessary a study in depth on his real utility, expecially in forensic and archaeological sciences. The following is Labanof’s experience. Methods: Labanof’s facial reconstructions are the results of the application of Manchester protocol. Works on clay models were built on skulls previously cleaned from soft tissue by boiling. Then he uses small wooden stick to mark the thickness in different areas, and plasticine to reproduce muscles and skins. Two eyes models in resin, on which human irises’ photos are put on, are set in the orbits, following Stewart’s method. The nose is modelled on George’s and Prokopec’s methods as well, which give similar results. The ears and hair, the skin’s colour, wrinkles and eyebrows are elaborated by computer and added according with race, sex and age. In order to help visual identification it’s preferred to point out some peculiar characteristics, expecially teeth. French school (of which Quatrehomme is one of the best-known exponents) has a different point of view: they make facial reconstructions with neutral expression considering this approach more scientific. Results: Labanof’s experience includes 14 cases of unknown-people, 8 men and 6 women. Two of them were identified: one by DNA, the other one by relatives. In three cases there is an identity suspicion, not yet confirmed by scientific procedures. Conclusions: Facial reconstruction is object of intense discussions; this study sums up the techniques and the main methods. Finally it reports experiences of Labanof, Laboratory of Forensic Anthropology and Odontology in Milan. Results obtained show that facial reconstruction sometimes provides a real aid to investigations; in fact far from being an identification method, it aims at exciting memory in the observer from the individual peculiar characteristics. An adequate divulgation of this method and of its results could increase the chance of recognizing unknown people, as shown by one of our cases where it provided for an identity suspicion.