Scientists have recreated the image of a woman who lived in Norway 800 years ago (3 photos)

Meet a medieval Norwegian woman! Researchers at the Museum of Natural History and Archeology (NTNU) in Trondheim created a very realistic model. It's sculptural life-size reconstruction based on the skeleton of a woman, who lived in the city of Trondheim 800 years ago.





3D model of a smiling elderly woman really looks very realistic. Such an old woman could well today walk along the city streets, leaning on a cane.

The researchers gave her the name "Torah" - it was chosen during public poll conducted by the Norwegian Broadcasting by NRK. Now the Torah has become part of the exhibition at the Museum natural history and archaeology.



Thora was born in the late 1200s and lived in Trondheim, a city in central Norway. According to the museum, at that time this medieval the metropolis grew rapidly and was populated by artisans and merchants.

Although there is no written evidence of the Torah, archaeologists have put together the life story of this medieval woman, based on the analysis of her remains and the place where she was buried. It's a graveyard next to the street where merchants lived, people are quite wealthy. According to scientists, Torah could come from a merchant family and, judging by the fact that she lived she is about 65 years old, her life was comfortable and comfortable.

The skeleton was deformed, so the researchers suggested that Torah in her old age walked hunched over and leaning on a cane. She also doesn't have there were teeth in the lower jaw and she lost them long before her death, but for At that time it was a completely natural phenomenon.



Thomas Foldberg was involved in creating the most realistic model, Danish makeup artist working in the film industry. Most often for these reconstruction projects use x-rays or computed tomography, however, Foldberg took a different path. He focused on the skeleton Torah to help create an impressive 3D model. He made the skin silicone and even manually painted age spots on it. hair on head, eyebrows, eyelashes - all this is also done at the highest level. Amazing artwork!

When the model was finished, it had to be properly dressed. The costume for the Torah was created by Marianna Vedeler, professor Materials Science at the Department of Archeology at the University of Oslo. She is explored archaeological finds in the area where Tora lived, and then turned to local dressmakers to sew an outfit.

Torah's dress was made by Nille Glazel, an experienced dressmaker who works in the style of the Viking Age and the Middle Ages. She made a dress using medieval technology, for greater authenticity. Herself spun the yarn, wove the fabric and dyed it with dye on natural basis (madder dye). Then I sewed the dress by hand on the base. data provided by Prof. Wedeler. Nille Glazel also made shoes, also based on archaeological finds.

Why is Thor smiling? Researchers answer this question as follows: "It was very important for us to give museum visitors a feeling of warm meetings so that they feel their connection with a person from the Middle Ages. All used to think that those times were dark and difficult. But there were also joy and happiness, people loved each other, and some even lived a long life. These people looked like us, felt like us, They were no different from us."