Face of Iron Age Hebridean druid recreated by student
● ‘Hilda’ the toothless 60-yearold brought back to life after 2,000 years
She has been nicknamed “Hilda” and she lived in the Western Isles around 2,000 years ago.
Her face has been reconstructed by a University of Dundee student, who used her skull, which is held in a collection in Edinburgh, to bring her back to life.
It is believed Hilda was more than 60 years old when she died during the Iron Age – almost double the life expectancy of the time.
Completely toothless, the Celt is believed to be from Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis and may have come from welloff people.
Karen Fleming, an MSC forensic art and facial identification student, recreated the head in wax.
Ms Fleming said: “Hilda was a fascinating character to recreate. It’s clear from the skull she was toothless before she died, which isn’t too surprising considering the diet of folk back then, but it was impressive how long she lived.
“A female’s life expectancy at this time was roughly 31 years but it is now thought that living longer during the Iron Age is indicative of a privileged background.”
Hilda was recreated from a skull held at the University of Edinburgh’s Anatomical Museum and is described as one of six “Druids of the Hebrides” skulls presented to the Phrenological Society of Edinburgh in 1833.
Ms Fleming said: “It’s impossible to know for sure when she died as we were unable to carbon date the skull but, assuming the information in the journal from 1833 is correct, Hilda passed away anytime between 55BC and 400AD and was of Celtic origin.
“I think she looks like many older women I’ve met in my life and I’m proud of that.”
Reproducing features in wax, Ms Fleming said this year’s heatwave almost melted Hilda before she had been brought back to life.
“It’s funny to say it now but I had to keep parts of Hilda, like her wax modelled ears, in the fridge for most of the summer.
“As a mature student who commutes from Edinburgh, I often had to keep her cool in the car, strapped up in the passenger seat. I’m sure that’s a sight passers-by won’t forget seeing.”
Hilda will go on display at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design from tomorrow until 25 August.