Scientists have revealed the face of a dog dating back over 4,000 years for the first time.
The reconstruction is based on the skull of a Neolithic dog discovered in Cuween Hill, on Orkney.
Forensic artist Amy Thornton created a realistic model of the dog’s head, including muscle, skin and even hair.
While reconstructions have previously been made of people from the Neolithic era, this is the first time researchers have attempted to reconstruct an animal from this time.
Skeletons dating back 3,000 years may have been victims of human SACRIFICE
Ms Thorton, who trained at the University of Dundee, said: “This reconstruction has been a particularly interesting project to be involved in, as it marks the first time I’ve employed forensic methods that would usually be used for a human facial reconstruction and applied these to an animal skull.
"This brought its own set of challenges, as there is much less existing data relating to average tissue depths in canine skulls compared to humans.
"The reconstruction was originally created in clay using traditional methods, with a 3D print of the Cuween Hill skull as the base to build the anatomy on to.
Scientists discover new species of dwarf-like HUMAN that lived 50,000 years ago
“The completed sculpture was then cast in silicone and finished with the fur coat resembling a European grey wolf, as advised by experts. The resulting model gives us a fascinating glimpse at this ancient animal."
The researchers hope the reconstruction will help to to shed light on animals and their role in Neolithic groups.
Dr Alison Sheridan, Principal Archaeological Research Curator in the Department of Scottish History and Archaeology at National Museums Scotland, said: “The size of a large collie, and with features reminiscent of that of a European grey wolf, the Cuween dog has much to tell us, not only about ceremonial practices and the symbolic significance of the dog in Late Neolithic Orkney but also about the appearance of domestic dogs in the third millennium BC."
