What does it take to sculpt a human face from a skeleton? This true story takes us inside the Stockholm studio of Swedish forensic artist Oscar Nilsson, where history is brought back to life through forensic sculpting.
Working closely with archaeologists and museums, Oscar creates lifelike sculptures of people who lived thousands of years ago—using DNA extracted from skeletal remains to reveal traits like hair color, eye color, and ancestry.
But it doesn’t stop there. Oscar also relies on osteological analysis—studying bones for forensic clues about a person’s age, sex, health, and even how they may have lived or died. The result is a hauntingly realistic sculpture that bridges the gap between science and art. From a Wari Queen born in the 9th Century to a 17th Century ‘vampire’, these are the forgotten faces of history—painstakingly sculpted in silicone, clay, and stunning detail.
- 00:00 - Introduction
- 00:40 - Studio Tour
- 01:09 - The Science
- 01:49 - The Tips
- 03:59 - The Discovery
- 05:30 - Outro
