3D Scanning Reveals Robert the Bruce Scottish King had Leprosy

700 Year Old Face - Amazing Images Revealed – 3D Scans

For the first time in 700 years, the face of a heroic Scottish King has come up from the shadows wherein scientist have utilised 3D scans on the skull of Robert Bruce in creating amazing images which could have been of those during his time in power in Scotland in the 14th century.

One of the images portrays the king in his prime as a enormous and influential male having well-built neck with stocky frame while another displays that he could have had some weakness with indications of leprosy that had disfigured his upper jaw and nose. Robert Bruce was around 55 years of age and reigned from 1306 till his death In 1314, he had been at war to bring down his Scottish rivals together with the English regime in Scotland terminating in the battle of Bannockburn.

His new images had been developed in collaboration between historians from the University of Glasgow together with craniofacial experts from Liverpool John Moores University – (LJMU). The Director of LJMU’s Face Lab and a world renowned craniofacial identification expert, Professor Caroline Wilkinson had supported the facials reconstruction by undertaking a 3D scan of what was assumed to be his skull.

3D Reproduction Process –stereo-lithography

It is believed that the skull had been unearthed between 1818 and 1819 from Dunfermline Abbey in Fife and the facial structure of the king had been generated by utilising the process of a 3D reproduction which is known as `stereo-lithography’.

No trustworthy photographic illustrations of Bruce had been made during his time and written accounts do not convey anything regarding his appearance. Professor Wilkinson, who had been responsible for the facial reconstruction of Richard III, stated that on utilising the cast of the skull, they could precisely create the formation of the muscle from the positions of bones of the skull in defining the structure and the shape of the face.

He further added that the reconstruction could not portray the colour of his eyes, the tone of his skin as well as the colour of his hair. Two versions had been produced, one without leprosy and another one with a mild sign of leprosy. He added that he could have had leprosy though if he did it would probably be that it did not manifest strongly on his face, since this had not been documented.

Indications of Leprosy

According to researchers an image had portrayed him with a large and powerful male head which had been supported by a muscular neck together with stocky frame and showed him as a privileged person who could have relished the benefits of an excellent diet. The researchers further stated that his physique could have prepared him for the ruthless burdens of feudal warfare.However, he could also be having indications of leprosy, which had disfigured his upper jaw and nose wherein the researchers had created another version accounting for the same. This was so because the historians were of the belief that Bruce had suffered due to the disease that had affected him many time at the time of his reign which has probably ended in his death. In 1327 for instance, he was said to be so frail and he could only move his tongue.