A hyper-realistic method for facial approximation: the case of the Italian humanist Angelo Poliziano

Frequently, identification of individuals is problematical due to the level of associated decomposition and even more when the skeletal remains are incomplete or fragmented. The identikit, which includes a sketch or a facial reconstruction, could assist investigators with determining the identity of the decedent. Similarly, in archeology and physical anthropology it gives a realistic appearance to a historical character known only through iconography. We examined the skull of Angelo Poliziano, an Italian humanist of the 15th century. Previously, his facial approximation was completed in clay according to the Manchester protocol and then a duplication was prepared in ultra-realistic materials. This technique returns a long lasting 3D model of the individual and provides the perception to be in front of a real person and, although expensive, applied in forensic context could it improve the recognition of the individual.