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'Ullrich H, Stephan CN,, 2016: Mikhail Mikhaylovich Gerasimov's Authentic Approach to Plastic Facial Reconstruction. Anthropologie (Brno) 54, 2: 97-107'. |
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| Abstract | | Facial reconstruction is used in paleoanthropology and the forensic sciences to predict facial
appearances from dry skulls. The Russian archaeologist Mikhail Mikhaylovich Gerasimov is especially renowned
for his contributions to this field; so much so, that his method defines an entire face prediction approach that
delineates the theoretical and practical framework of the forensic facial reconstruction discipline. However,
Gerasimov's founding method has been massively misinterpreted in the English speaking world, including the English
forensic science literature. That is, Gerasimov's so-called "Russian methods" do not rely on the comprehensive
construction of the facial muscles without the use of facial soft tissue thickness means as unanimously published
beyond Gerasimov's manuscripts. Instead, the reverse is true: Gerasimov constructed only limited muscles – the two
superficial muscles of mastication – and his method heavily depended on average soft tissue thickness values, which
he twice published. While Gerasimov's hallmark Russian text, Vosstanovlenie lica po cerepu (available since 1955),
clearly delineates these methods, ongoing hesitation to abandon entrenched dogma suggests that an English synopsis
is timely. To avoid continuing problems of language barriers and original text scarcity, we present and illustrate
Gerasimov's authentic facial reconstruction techniques in English on the basis of two primary sources:
Vosstanovlenie lica po cerepu; and five, two-to-three week, one-on-one training sessions with Gerasimov in the
former USSR between 1959 and 1969. While this paper is not intended to replace Gerasimov’s original works, it is
intended to inspire proper consultation of his original manuscripts to correct entrenched misrepresentations; and
provide insight on how Gerasimov implemented these recommendations at the work-bench, i.e., to elucidate his
technique in addition to his method. | | | | Keywords | | Facial approximation ‒ Facial reproduction ‒ Plastic reconstruction ‒ Russian method ‒ Forensic anthropology | | |
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