REVIEW article
Front. Environ. Archaeol.
Sec. Human Bioarchaeology and Paleopathology
Volume 4 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fearc.2025.1591662
Humanizing the past: a review on the role of facial approximation in museums and its public perception
Provisionally accepted
- 1Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
- 2Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Lombardia, Italy
- 3Center for Clinical Ethics, Insubria University, Varese, Italy
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Facial approximation in archaeological contexts represents a complex intersection of science, art, and ethics. While these reconstructions offer a unique opportunity to engage the public with the past, they also raise critical concerns regarding accuracy, representation, and the dignity of the deceased. This literature review examines the ethical discourse surrounding facial approximations in museums, emphasizing the need for transparency in their creation and presentation. By integrating anthropology, ethics, and museum studies, we highlight both the potential and the limitations of these estimations. A balanced approach - one that acknowledges interpretative subjectivity while fostering public engagement - can enhance the ethical and scientific integrity of facial approximation practices in archaeological field.
Keywords: Facial approximation, Bioarchaeology, Bioethics, museum, Anthropology
Received: 11 Mar 2025; Accepted: 13 May 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Vanni, Licata, Fusco, Rossetti and Picozzi. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Arianna Vanni, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
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