3D Digital reconstruction, preliminary morphometric analysis, and facial approximation of Shiraho 4 skull

Abstract

Over a thousand human fossil specimens have been recovered from the Late Pleistocene stratum at the Shiraho-Saonetabaru Cave site, Ishigaki Island. Approximately 20 individuals could be identified, which include four well preserved individuals. The skull parts of one of these four individuals, the Shiraho 4 individual, were microCT-scanned in order to digitally accomplish its reconstruction. Standard cranial metrics were acquired by either measuring the original bone or calculating the value using the coordinates of the measurement points defined upon the digitally reconstructed skull data. We performed preliminary comparison of its craniofacial morphology with the published data of the human remains from geographically and/or chronologically close sites. Finally we attempted the facial approximation of the Shiraho 4 based on the digital reconstruction results.