In a small university laboratory located in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, scientists are employing a tiny drill to remove enamel from a tooth that is 2,500 years old.
Scientists from Madurai Kamaraj University state that the tooth comes from one of two human skulls they have utilized as models to create digital facial reconstructions, aiming to gain insight into the appearance of the area’s first inhabitants.
The skulls, both from men, were uncovered at Kondagai, an ancient burial ground located approximately 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) from Keeladi – an archaeological site that hasbecome a political issue in India.
Archaeologists from the Tamil Nadu state department suggest that an urban civilization existed in Keeladi as far back as 580BC, a discovery that introduces a fresh perspective to the history of the Indian subcontinent.
The Indus Valley Civilization, which arose more than 5,000 years ago in the northern and central regions of modern-day India, was the nation’s earliest significant civilization — and stories about urban development have largely focused on the north.
However, state archaeologists claim that the discoveries in Keeladi suggest, for the first time, that an ancient autonomous civilization was present in southern India as well.
It is claimed that the inhabitants of Keeladi were educated, possessed advanced skills, and participated in trade throughout the subcontinent and beyond. They resided in brick-built homes and interred their deceased with everyday items such as food grains and pottery in large burial urns at Kondagai.
So far, archaeologists have uncovered approximately 50 such urns from the location.
Scientists from Madurai Kamaraj University are currently isolating DNA from human bones and various items discovered within these urns to gain deeper insights into the people who lived in Keeladi and their way of life.
Yet a deeper search appears to be taking place.
“We are eager to explore our heritage and the paths our ancestors took,” states Professor G Kumaresan, who leads the genetics department at the university. “It’s a quest to address the broader question of ‘who we are and how we came to be here,’ ” he further mentions.
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The process of recreating the faces of 2,500-year-old skulls has provided insights that may address at least one aspect of this inquiry.
“The faces primarily exhibit characteristics of Ancient Ancestral South Indians – a group thought to be the earliest residents of the Indian subcontinent,” states Professor Kumaresan.
The characteristics also show signs of Middle-East, Eurasian, and Austro-Asiatic heritages, suggesting worldwide migration and the blending of ancient communities. However, Professor Kumaresan states that further study is required to accurately determine the origins of Keeladi’s inhabitants.
The facial reconstruction of the skulls started when researchers from Madurai Kamaraj University generated 3D scans of the skulls.
These digital scans were subsequently sent to Face Lab at Liverpool John Moores University in the United Kingdom. Face Lab focuses on producing digital craniofacial reconstructions by combining forensic, artistic, and scientific methods and technologies.
Scientists in the laboratory utilized computer programs to add muscles, tissue, and skin to skull scans, revealing their facial characteristics. These enhancements were based on typical human anatomical standards and dimensions.
Next was the major challenge: introducing color to the pictures.
This raised questions such as what shade of brown the men should have, what color their eyes should be, and how their hair should appear?
Professor Kumaresan mentions that the usual approach of using colors corresponding to the physical characteristics of individuals currently residing in Tamil Nadu was adhered to, yet the digital portraits still generated vibrant conversations on social media.
They highlighted deep-seated differences within Indian society – concerning race, culture, and ancestry.
Historical stories that promoted Aryans (a term often referring to people who migrated to northern India) as the “original inhabitants” of the nation conflicted with those that gave this designation to Dravidians (a term used for people mainly residing in southern India).
India has long faced a north-south divide, which is partly due to the common perception that Indian civilization—along with its language, culture, and religion—originated in the north and influenced the rest of the nation.
However, Professor Kumaresan states that the facial portraits of the Keeladi skulls convey a message that is more intricate and diverse.
“The key takeaway is that we are more varied than we think, and the evidence for this is found in our genetic code,” he states.
This is not the first instance where researchers in India have tried to restore facial features from ancient skulls.
In 2019, researchers created facial reconstructions of two skulls discovered at a burial ground in Rakhigarhi, a significant location from the Indus Valley Civilization in India. However, the drawings do not include color or additional physical characteristics.
“As humans, we are drawn to faces – the skill of recognizing and understanding them is a key factor in our effectiveness as a social species,” explains Caroline Wilkinson, who led the Face Lab team involved in the study of the Keeladi men.
“These facial representations also prompt the audience to view ancient remains as individuals rather than objects, and to form a bond through personal stories instead of broader historical context,” she adds.
Efforts are being made at Madurai Kamaraj University to examine Keeladi with the same level of detail as the Indus Valley Civilization.
“So far, we have learned that the inhabitants of Keeladi engaged in farming, commerce, and raising livestock. They raised deer, goats, and wild pigs and consumed a significant amount of rice and millets,” says Prof Kumaresan.
“Interestingly, we have discovered signs that they also ate dates, even though the date palm is not commonly found in Tamil Nadu today,” he adds.
However, the most difficult challenge for his team continues to be obtaining enough DNA from human remains discovered at Kondagai to establish a genetic database. As the skeletons are severely deteriorated, the DNA retrieved from them is minimal and of low quality. Nevertheless, Professor Kumaresan remains optimistic that positive outcomes will result from these efforts.
“Old DNA collections are similar to gateways to history; they can offer intriguing information about how life used to be and how we understand it today,” he states.
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