Faces of the Teouma Lapita People: art, accuracy and facial approximation

Authors

Susan Hayes, University of WollongongFollow
Frederique Valentin, University of Paris 13
Hallie Buckley, University of Otago
Matthew Spriggs, Australian National UniversityFollow
Stuart Bedford, Australian National UniversityFollow

RIS ID

76670

Publication Details

Hayes, S., Valentin, F., Buckley, H., Spriggs, M. & Bedford, S. (2009). Faces of the Teouma Lapita People: art, accuracy and facial approximation. Leonardo: Art Science and Technology, 42 (3), 284-285.

Abstract

In 2008 we completed facial approximations of four individuals from the early Lapita Culture, a seafaring people who were the first to settle the islands of the Western Pacific circa 3000 years ago. Typically an approximation is performed as a 3D sculpture or using computer graphics. We chose to sketch what we have been able to determine from the remains because the artistic conventions of drawing work with visual perception in ways that are more complementary to the knowledge, theories and methods that make up the facial approximation of human remains.