Malta

[Bara]

Some people may remember that my ex is half Maltese. (Yeah, yeah, 'How do you make a Maltese Cross?')

Anyway, we holidayed there, scuba-dived on many an occasion. It's an amazing island, though too hot. Such history! It's mainly known for its role in WWII.

But I've just found this. Wow! She doesn't look a million miles from my SIL, Maria, Charles' sister. I'm not sending it to Maria. She's a bit sensitive about turning 40. I think six thousand may put me off her Christmas list...

www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130507/local/revealed-the-face-of-a-maltese-woman-5-600-years-ago.468752

[Bara]

What do you think about 'facial reconstructions'? I don't know. Here is Mary Queen of Scots. Silly girl, got it all wrong - especially Darnley. Do you think she really looked liked this? What a pretty, silly girl.

www.telegraph.co.uk/history/10145989/Facial-reconstruction-of-Mary-Queen-of-Scots-to-go-on-display.html

[ZenRider]

Have seen some facial reconstructions of found skulls that look really close to the person they were trying to identify. Have seen some, not-so-much. DNA has pretty much made that unnecessary, except in cases that the person doesn't have a DNA (by family or whatever) profile available to match with. Have seen some that well, a bit less so. I think part of the problem can be the person doing the reconstructions own imagination.

As for Queen Mary, it's probably similar to what she looked like, but seems a bit cartoonish to me, so no probably not exactly what she looked like. Things like the ears and nose especially are up to the artist's interpretation.

[Bara]

Yeah - have you heard about 'the king in the carpark'? That's what sent me off on this kick. They thought it was Richard III (who murdered the princes in the tower, etc.) Supposedly the last Plantaganet. I know, I know, I've gone all 'Brit' on you.

Anyway, they found a skeleton under a supermarket carpark and did a full reconstruction, eventually matching the DNA to the last descendant, who was somewhere in Canada, Tee!

If I had my time again, I'd be an archaeologist ... Perhaps in my next life!