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| Kennewick Man: 'most important' face revealed after 8,500 years (Cicero Moraes). |
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Meet the Kennewick Man: Face of "most important" ancient Native American revealed after 8,500 years
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| Strong and resilient ancestor of current residents |
The face of one of the most significant
skeletons ever unearthed in North America has been reconstructed for the first time -- more than 8,000 years after the man's death.
The individual, known as the
Kennewick Man, was approximately 40 years old when he died during the early
Holocene period, which started roughly 11,700 years ago following the conclusion of the last major ice age.
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| Columbia River, Washington, USA |
His remains were discovered along the banks of the
Columbia River in 1996, close to Kennewick City in Washington state, from which he derived his name.
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| Map: Where is the Columbia River? |
The find represented one of the most intact specimens from this era and offers proof of Native American habitation in the region for
more than 8,000 years. The skeleton has been pivotal in academic discussions surrounding the earliest inhabitants of the North American continent.
Scientists have now created a reconstruction of his living facial features using his skull, providing insight into the man's history, reports the
Express US.
Lead researcher Cicero Moraes described the reconstruction as depicting a "strong and resilient man," whose characteristics reflected "a life marked by continuous physical effort and survival."
He continued: "First, the skull is analyzed using known averages of soft-tissue thickness and anatomical guidelines to position key features such as the eyes, nose, lips, and ears.
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