3D Facial Approximation of Ava, a Scottish woman from 3,800 years ago

This study presents a novel 3D facial approximation of “Ava,” a young woman associated with the Beaker culture, whose remains were discovered in 1987 at Achavanich, Scotland. Building on the foundation laid by the Achavanich Beaker Burial Project and integrating anthropological, genetic, and digital modeling techniques, the present work reconstructs Ava’s face using open-access 3D data and forensic methods. The process involved anatomical deformation, projection based on statistical and morphometric data, and adaptation to DNA-based phenotypic predictions. The model was developed in Blender 3D using the OrtogOnBlender add-on. The resulting approximation incorporates not only skeletal analysis but also genomic insights into pigmentation traits. Endocranial volume was also assessed and contextualised with comparative cranial datasets. This reconstruction contributes to public engagement with Scottish prehistory and exemplifies how interdisciplinary and open-access approaches can extend the reach and impact of forensic facial approximation.