Mikhail Mikhailovich Gerasimov (1907–1970) and his method of face reconstruction from the skull

Abstract

The article is dedicated to the 115th anniversary of the birth of Mikhail Mikhailovich Gerasimov, a worldfamous scientist, pioneer of historical and forensic portrait reconstruction, founder of the Plastic Reconstruction Laboratory at the Institute of Ethnography of the Academy of Sciences of the Soviet Union (currently the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the Russian Academy of Sciences). M.M. Gerasimov created the most famous gallery of sculptural portraits of a number of historical persons, and also recreated the appearances of fossil people from the available bone remains. A man of encyclopedic knowledge, anthropologist, archaeologist and sculptor rolled into one, Gerasimov laid the foundations of craniofacial reconstruction and created his own scientific school. For his invaluable contribution to science and practical anthropology, as well as to forensic medicine and forensic science, the scientist was awarded the State Prize in 1950, as well as the title of Honored Scientist of the RSFSR in 1969. The method of facial reconstruction developed by Gerasimov formed the basis of modern methods equipped with advanced imaging and computer technologies. The laboratory created by M.M. Gerasimov exists and is actively functioning up to the present days, and his students successfully continue the work he started. For decades, the authority of M.M. Gerasimov in anthropological reconstruction has remained unshakable, the method of reconstruction of the appearance of fossil people, developed by the scientist, has received worldwide recognition, and it is fundamental for modern researchers. Followers of M.M. Gerasimov continue to develop and improve the method, which is of paramount importance in paleoanthropology, ethnography, historical sciences, and which has found practical application in forensic science, forensic medicine and plastic surgery.

Keywords

• craniofacial reconstruction
• mikhail mikhailovich gerasimov
• historical portrait reconstruction
• personal identification
• forensic anthropology