山顶洞101号男性头骨的三维颅面复原

山顶洞101号头骨化石是东亚地区保存最为完整的化石之一,是探讨东亚地区现代人起源的重要研究材料。本文依据数据集中现生人的面部软组织平均分布,提出了计算机三维颅面复原方法,实现了101号头骨生前面貌的预测复原。主要包括三个步骤：首先使用CT完成了101号男性头骨和下颌骨仿制模型的三维重建。然后,利用计算机技术将现生人的面部软组织分布作为101号头骨的面部软组织分布,实现了颅面虚拟复原,并采用手工绘画技巧再现了复原面貌的形态特征。最后,提出了一种基于面部软组织分布和面貌统计形状模型的形态分析方法,实现了颅面复原结果的评估。山顶洞101号头骨的复原面貌具有头部较长、额头前倾、眉弓粗壮等特征,与101号头骨的几何形态基本一致。该技术再现了更新世晚期人类的脑颅及面部的形态特征,为古人类颅面复原的研究提供了技术支持和参考资料。

The three-dimensional facial reconstruction of a male Upper Cave 101 skull

The Upper Cave (UC) 101 skull is one of the most complete human fossils in the Eastern Asia, which has been the most important material to investigate the origins of modern Eastern Asian humans. In this study, we proposed a computerized craniofacial reconstruction approach to produce a possible 3D facial appearance of UC 101 skull based on the average facial soft-tissue thickness measurements (FSTMs) distribution of modern living humans within the skull and face datasets. It contains three steps: first, we used computerized tomography (CT) scan to acquire the digital model of a high-quality replica of UC 101 skull, which consists of the cranium and mandible. Second, based on the assumption that the average FSTMs distribution of the living humans is the similar to that of the UC 101, we used computer technique to virtually attach this FSTMs distribution to the UC 101 so as to produce the facial appearance. We also employed the handmade drawing technique to produce the facial morphological characteristics and subtle details of the reconstructed face. Finally, we proposed a geometric shape analysis approach to assess the reliability of the reconstructed face by means of the comparison of FSTMs distributions and the face statistical shape model. Our results illustrate that the reconstructed face is consistent with the geometric shape of UC 101, which exhibits an elongated face, a sloped forehead, stronger and wider eyebrows, etc. Our method exhibits a possible likeness of geometric shape of the neurocranium and facial morphological characters, which may further be applicable for other anthropological fossils.