Pictish Male LL3 from Lundin Links (Visible Disabilities in Premodern Europe)

Overview:
Developed as part of the Visible Disabilities in Premodern Europe project, this facial approximation supports History in Our Bones, a travelling exhibition exploring disability, identity, and lived experience through archaeological research, museum interpretation, and public engagement. The reconstruction depicts a Pictish man (LL3) whose skeletal remains preserve evidence of chronic health conditions, including Eagle syndrome, dental disease, and sinusitis.

Creative & Scientific Contribution:
Working with an interdisciplinary team of researchers, museum professionals, disability advocates, and community partners, I produced an evidence-based craniofacial approximation informed by skeletal analysis, clinical evidence, and archaeological context. I also contributed to exhibition interpretation, visual storytelling, and public-facing narratives, ensuring the visible effects of chronic illness were communicated accurately and respectfully while maintaining the individual's dignity and personhood. The reconstruction was designed to encourage visitors to consider not only disease, but the resilience, identity, and lived experiences of people in early medieval Scotland.

Public Impact:
Following its successful debut at the Wardlaw Museum, the reconstruction forms part of the travelling exhibition History in Our Bones, opening at The McManus: Dundee's Art Gallery & Museum in June 2026. Through evidence-based visual storytelling and collaborative interpretation, the exhibition invites audiences to reconsider historical perceptions of disability and health while fostering greater understanding of inclusion, human diversity, and the experiences of individuals in the past.