Tuesday October 20th 2026
Facial reconstruction of man from Inveresk (image by Chris Rynn)
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Liam Eunson
Scientists have reconstructed the face of a man who lived on the Roman frontier at Inveresk, near Edinburgh, almost 2,000 years ago, ahead of a new exhibition at National Museums Scotland.
The face of a man who lived in Roman Scotland almost 2,000 years ago has been revealed through a new digital reconstruction, using scientific analysis of his remains to uncover details of his life.
The man lived at Inveresk, near Edinburgh, and is believed to have been in his early 50s when he died between AD 140 and 165. Analysis suggests he travelled hundreds of miles from southern Britain to the shores of the Firth of Forth.
Scientists found evidence of a hard, physically active life, including a previously broken nose and extensive bone growth around his right elbow, probably caused by septic arthritis. The condition would have significantly restricted his arm movement, meaning he would not have been able to wield a sword when he died.
Pronounced wear on his front teeth suggests he may have used them to hold objects to compensate for the reduced mobility in his arm.
The reconstruction was created by Dr Chris Rynn, combining archaeological evidence with genetic and isotopic analysis to estimate the man’s appearance, including his brown eyes and greying dark hair.
Dr Jess Thompson examines the skull of a man from Roman Scotland (photo by Duncan McGlynn)
Dr Jess Thompson, Curator of Osteoarchaeology at National Museums Scotland, said: “The burials at Inveresk are exceptional and incredibly rare survivals from Roman Scotland. Taking an interdisciplinary approach to the analysis of human remains allows us to understand the physical attributes of these individuals as well as their life stories. We can investigate where these men had travelled from to reach the frontier, what they were doing there and what became of them. This facial reconstruction by Dr Chris Rynn unites cutting-edge science with artistic vision to create an instant connection with the past, offering a dynamic portrait of what he may have looked like and who he may have been.”
The man was one of several individuals buried near the Roman fort at Inveresk. The site is particularly unusual because four of the six adult men buried there were decapitated after death.
Although post-mortem decapitation has been recorded at sites across Britain, the Inveresk burials are the first known examples in Scotland and among the earliest discovered in Britain.
The reasons for the practice remain uncertain. It may have been linked to punishment, beliefs about the circumstances of a person’s death or supernatural concerns.
Dr Fraser Hunter, Principal Curator of Prehistory and Roman Archaeology at National Museums Scotland, said: “I have worked with the finds from Roman Inveresk for years, but this facial reconstruction finally gives me a sense of what one of its inhabitants looked like. Archaeology tells us about people who had hopes and fears just like us, and it is a privilege to present a vision of this resident of Inveresk using contemporary scientific techniques. We cannot know how exactly he looked, but we think his family and friends would have spotted the likeness.”
The man’s skull will be displayed alongside the digital reconstruction in Roman Scotland: Life on the Edge of Empire, a new exhibition at National Museums Scotland running from November 14, 2026, to April 18, 2027.
The exhibition will explore life on the Roman frontier, including the experiences of soldiers, the families and communities living around military bases, and local people whose lives and lands were threatened by the Roman invasion.
The reconstruction draws on an osteoarchaeological assessment by National Museums Scotland, isotopic analysis led by researchers at Durham University, and ancient DNA research involving teams at the University of York and Harvard Medical School.
The exhibition is supported by the Roman Scotland Exhibition Supporters Circle.
Tweet Share on FacebookNews
