The Facial Heritage of the Canary Islands: Craniofacial Analysis of Fifty Skulls from a Pre-Hispanic Population

This research project aimed to create a complete and representative picture of the facial heritage of the Canary Islands, by accommodating the interpretations of recent genome studies and explorations regarding the identity of the ancient Canarians, alongside facial anthropology and comparative analysis with a modern population. This project therefore represents an exciting combination of identity, migration, forensics and archaeology. Facial depictions were produced for fifty indigenous skulls housed at El Museo Canario of Gran Canaria, using the latest forensic technology along with well-established morphometrical standards. To our knowledge, this project represents the most extensive craniofacial analysis study of a single population from anywhere in the world. An exhibition at the El Museo Canario of Gran Canaria provided valuable public engagement in relation to anthropology and archaeology, while at the same time presenting the visualisation of people from the past. The research is timely and of global benefit within the wider cultural and social debate relating to identity, migration and nationality, demonstrating historical evidence for global migration as an ancient pattern rather than a recent phenomenon.