Skip to main content

Scientists reconstruct facial features of 2,000-year-old mummies

Scientists in a company working on DNA technology reconstructed the faces of three men who lived in ancient Egypt 2,000 years ago, but Egyptian Egyptologists raise cautions about the significance of the feat.

mummy
A coffin of an Egyptian pharaoh lies at the new National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Cairo on April 4. — Jonathan Rashad/Getty Images

CAIRO — The American Live Science website reported Sept. 27 that a team of scientists have successfully recreated the faces of three men who lived in ancient Egypt more than 2,000 years ago, in what was described as a “stunning” operation. 

The website said that researchers at Parabon NanoLabs, a DNA technology company based in Reston, Virginia, were behind the reconstruction process. “Digital reconstructions depict the men at age 25, based on DNA data extracted from their mummified remains,” the website added. 

Subscribe for unlimited access

All news, events, memos, reports, and analysis, and access all 10 of our newsletters. Learn more

$14 monthly or $100 annually ($8.33/month)
OR

Continue reading this article for free

All news, events, memos, reports, and analysis, and access all 10 of our newsletters. Learn more.

By signing up, you agree to Al-Monitor’s Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. Already have an account? Log in