According to The Smithsonian Magazine, “When the Swedish warship Vasa sank to the bottom of the Baltic Sea in 1628, around 30 people died. Their watery grave remained undisturbed for 333 years, until the wreck was raised from the depths in 1961. Now, one of the almost 20 human skeletons recovered from the Vasa has not only a name but also a face. Artist Oscar Nilsson drew on DNA and skeletal evidence to create a stunning facial reconstruction of a victim of the shipwreck. The young woman, newly dubbed Gertrude, had blue eyes, blonde hair and pale skin. She was around 25 to 30 years old when the Vasa sank just 20 minutes into its maiden voyage on August 10, 1628, reports Live Science”. As it happens, Herr Nilsson isn’t the only person reconstructing long ago faces.
© 2024 John Oliver
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