Face of 10,000-year-old woman revealed by scientists in incredible reconstruction

The woman, known as Meuse Woman, lived and died in the Meuse river valley some 5,000 years before the building of Stonehenge

Scientists have reconstructed the face of a 10,000-year-old woman thanks to cutting-edge DNA technology.

The striking image was produced by a team from Ghent University in Belgium and depicts a woman who lived and died in the Meuse river valley, a staggering 5,000 years before Stonehenge was built. Her remains, dating back to the Mesolithic period, were discovered among the bodies of between 30 and 60 other women. DNA fragments extracted from her skull suggest she had dark hair, blue eyes, and lighter skin than many of her European contemporaries.

The unique coloring of the "Meuse Woman's" is believed to be due to her nomadic lifestyle, which involved traversing vast distances with her tribe.

The burial rituals for these women seem to have been intricate and, by our standards, quite brutal. Professor Isabelle De Groote noted: "We noticed that the skulls were scalped and manipulated with ochre, possibly as a burial ritual. It is also striking that only women were buried there,", reports the Express.

She further added: "We know what the woman ate, based on animal remains. Remains of poles indicate camps. Remains of hazelnuts show that there were hazel forests."

The remains of the Meuse Woman were initially discovered in the Margaux caves in Belgium back in 1988, but it's only now that the comprehensive research has been published.

The face of the woman was brought to life by Dutch twin brothers, Adrie and Alfons Kennis, who identify themselves as "paleo-anthropological artists."

They utilized the Ghent team's comprehensive findings to reconstruct her features using a blend of resin and silicone.

In due course, she will also be given an official name. An online poll allows the public to select from three options; Margo, Freya or Mos'anne.

Individuals can cast their vote for their preferred name until the end of June via the voting link located at the top of the project's website.

The exact reason for her death remains unknown. "It is rare that we see this in a skeleton because most causes of death do not show on the skeleton but we do not see a blow to the head in her, for example," De Groote shared with the Daily Mail.

The Meuse Woman's tribe led a simple existence, living in harmony with nature. Professor De Groote added: "They used animal parts for clothing, tools, and bindings, and may have domesticated dogs. Their lifestyle was closely tied to the natural environment, relying on seasonal resources and skilled foraging and hunting."

People of the Mesolithic era crafted tools not only from stone but also from bones and wood, creating weapons such as bows and arrows, harpoons, and fish hooks.

By the late Mesolithic period, humans had developed advanced skills like pottery and painting. Hunter-gatherers began to manufacture containers to store food for future use.

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