Three out of a set of five anatomical models from the 1960s were prepped for exhibition at the Durham University Museum of Archaeology. The skulls were wrapped in sello-tape in order to keep pieces together. Several of the skulls were also determined to be of an unnatural colour (see below) and required repainting before they went on display
This plastic Cro Magnon (Homo Sapien) skull was determined to have a very distracting “alienesque” colour. The mandible piece is also separate, and became lost in the storage container
20.5cm x 21cm x 15.3cm
A Homo neanderthalensis model based off the Old Man of La Chapelle-aux-Saints with an extremely distracting and unnatural paint layer
35.5cm x 25cm x 13.7cm
A plastic homo heidelbergensis skull model which demonstrated flaking paint on the reverse
19cm x 17cm x 15.3cm
The Cro Magnon model after treatment. The tone of the skull is now more natural and a closer comparison to a human skull. The mandible has been attached using a metal stand
The “La Chapelle” model after conservation. The colour has been lightened and looks considerably more natural. The mandible has been attached using a metal stand
The Rhodesier model was cleaned and accession information added. The flaking area at the back of the skull was overpainted to a more natural colour
