Understanding how to avoid cognitive bias when depicting ancient faces.
Citation summary:
Research spanned 6 years and included three multi-disciplinary cases involving collaboration with 13 international research institutions, leading to exhibition content in Norway (2016), a co-curated exhibition in the Canary Islands (2018), 2 peer-reviewed papers (2015; 2017), an online image and text resource (2020), 2 international conference presentations (2018) and public events in Norway (2016) and the Canary Islands (2018). The research culminated in a single-authored, peer-reviewed commentary paper (2020). Wilkinson led all the craniofacial analysis/interpretation and co-curated the Canarian exhibition demonstrating the largest craniofacial examination of an ancient population anywhere in the world to date.
- Submitting institution
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Liverpool John Moores University
- Unit of assessment
- 32 - Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory
- Output identifier
- 32CW2
- Type
- T - Other
- DOI
-
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- Location
- Various
- Brief description of type
- Multi Component Output
- Open access status
- Out of scope for open access requirements
- Month
- -
- Year
- 2014
- URL
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- Supplementary information
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- Request cross-referral to
- -
- Output has been delayed by COVID-19
- No
- COVID-19 affected output statement
- -
- Forensic science
- No
- Criminology
- No
- Interdisciplinary
- No
- Number of additional authors
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0
- Research group(s)
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3 - Face Lab
- Proposed double-weighted
- Yes
- Double-weighted statement
- Research involved the undertaking of a 6-year multi-layered process of creative investigation around the theme of the facial depiction of ancient populations and cognitive bias. Research included three multi-disciplinary projects involving collaboration with 13 international research institutions, leading to a wide variety of outputs and impact. Research included ancient populations spanning six thousand years and 3 continents, more than fifty subjects and the largest archaeological craniofacial examination/exhibition anywhere in the world to date.
- Reserve for an output with double weighting
- No
- Additional information
- Wilkinson presented the appearance of ordinary people from a number of ancient populations; ordinary people are quite rare as subjects in academic literature and these individual stories provide a unique view of historical society through a mixture of heritage, forensic art and bio-archaeology research. Facial depiction was used as a tool for the social interpretation of archaeological remains to enhance the understanding of ancient migratory patterns, demographics and culture. Wilkinson noted how these depictions can be influenced by scientific assumptions, contributing to and perpetuating confirmation bias. Informed by DNA and stable isotope analysis, Wilkinson analysed/depicted a large number of skulls/faces, and explored interpretation, museum display and curation methods in order to limit any such confirmation bias.
The first early Holocene case related to a burial site in Brazil, from which Wilkinson presented the facial appearance of one individual whose remains demonstrated ritualized decapitation. Results suggested a genetic link to the Clovis culture, and countered previous theories on early human migration patterns into South America from African origins. The second case presented the narratives and faces of three individuals from 13th century deomstrating genetic and facial heterogeneity in this early medieval town. The third case identified ancient facial diversity across the Canary Islands; framed by current genome studies and utilising fifty indigenous skulls, a range of facial identities was finally established and exhibited at the Museum of Gran Canaria alongside fifty photographic portraits of current Canarians. Wilkinson’s presentation of facial identity in this ancient population demonstrated ways to avoid confirmation bias, and created an important connection between the past and the present alongside valuable public engagement. Research is timely and of global benefit, fitting into the wider cultural/social debate around identity, migration and nationality, and demonstrating historical evidence for global migration as an ancient pattern rather than a recent phenomenon.
- Author contribution statement
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- Non-English
- No
- English abstract
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