The face of a young woman buried nearly 1,700 years ago has been brought back to life through forensic science, offering a rare glimpse into the people who once lived in the Roman city of Aquincum in present-day Hungary.
She is one of 16 ancient residents whose faces have been reconstructed for the exhibition “Once We Were Like You” at the Aquincum Museum in Budapest. The exhibition pairs excavated skulls with scientifically informed facial reconstructions, helping visitors visualize people who lived during the Roman period.
Among the reconstructed figures, the young woman stands out because of the remarkable objects found in her grave. Archaeologists discovered her buried in fine clothing, wearing a laurel wreath and unusual bird-shaped cork sandals. These carefully chosen burial items suggest she may have held a respected position in her community.
Six of the faces have been recreated as hyperrealistic silicone models featuring artificial eyes, real human hair, eyebrows and eyelashes. Some of the male figures also include carefully crafted beards. The exhibition will remain on display through Oct. 31.
A Roman frontier city with a diverse population
Aquincum stood along the Danube frontier of the Roman Empire and flourished between the first and fourth centuries A.D. Genetic and archaeological studies show its population came from a wide range of backgrounds, with links to areas that are now Italy, Scotland and Syria.
Researchers also found connections to Sarmatian groups from the Eurasian steppe and Celtic communities that lived in the region before Roman rule. Archaeologists continue to uncover graves from the ancient city, providing new evidence about the lives of its inhabitants.
Modern science brings ancient faces to life
Each facial reconstruction begins with a high-resolution CT scan of the original skull. Researchers then create an exact 3D-printed copy so specialists can work without handling the fragile remains. The process combines 3D scanning, CT imaging, ancient DNA analysis and forensic facial reconstruction.
A young Roman woman's face has been reconstructed nearly 1,700 years after her burial in ancient Aquincum, Hungary.
Using CT scans, 3D printing, ancient DNA and forensic science, researchers recreated the faces of 16 people who lived along the Roman Empire's Danube frontier. pic.twitter.com/0xG72ru56t
— Tom Marvolo Riddle (@tom_riddle2025) July 23, 2026
Ancient DNA can sometimes reveal likely eye, hair and skin color. However, the finished faces remain scientific approximations rather than exact portraits. Features such as hairstyles and facial expressions are based on informed interpretation.
A remarkable burial tells a personal story
Forensic facial reconstruction specialist Emese Gábor said the woman known as the Jablonka Road mummy left the strongest impression on her.
Although only the woman’s skull survived, archaeologists found a laurel wreath still resting on her head. Her grave also contained fine clothing, a weaving spindle, rare bird-shaped cork sandals and a painted portrait of a man placed near her feet.
Researchers believe the portrait may have represented her husband or father, although his identity remains unknown. Gábor said archaeologists reconstructed the woman’s story from the burial objects and scientific evidence while she focused on recreating her face.
Other reconstructed lives reveal ancient society
The exhibition also includes the reconstructed faces of a child, a blacksmith, a military officer, a construction worker and a woman believed to have served as a nurse or healer. Two women buried face down with their legs bound together are also featured.
While the exhibition links them to accusations of witchcraft and poisoning, researchers stress that these remain historical interpretations rather than conclusions supported by direct evidence.
Studies of the skeletons show that many people endured hard physical labor, hunger and long-term illness, suggesting they belonged to the poorer levels of Roman society. Gábor said life-sized reconstructions help visitors see them not simply as archaeological remains but as people who lived, worked, loved and struggled, creating a powerful reminder of a shared human past.
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