Paleo-Artists Revive Prehistoric Woman “Mos’anne” with Groundbreaking Reconstruction
Dutch paleo-artists Alfons and Adrie Kennis have brought a prehistoric woman, known as Mos’anne, back too life through a meticulous reconstruction process. The Kennis brothers, renowned for their ability to imbue scientific data with artistic character, spent six months sculpting Mos’anne’s likeness from clay, drawing inspiration from DNA analysis and guidance from researchers.
The Kennis twins,whose surname translates to “knowledge” in Dutch,are celebrated for their unique approach to paleo-art. While forensic reconstructions focus on scientific accuracy, the Kennis brothers aim to capture the essence and character of the individuals they recreate. Their work, which has been exhibited in museums globally and featured in specialist publications, draws inspiration from ancient anthropological images of early human encounters.
“The biggest part of the reconstruction is forming a character,” Alfons Kennis explained from their studio in Arnhem. “You can make a forensic reconstruction… use the data, apply the muscles, apply the skin, but you get no character.” This artistic beliefs allows them to capture the nuanced emotions of prehistoric ancestors meeting researchers for the first time, conveying a sense of nervousness, shyness, and even laughter born of nerves.
Mos’anne’s reconstruction features a headband adorned with duck feathers, golden skin, and pierced animal teeth decorating her ears and necklace. Researchers are continuing to analyze Mos’anne’s remains to uncover further details about her life, including her diet.The Kennis brothers’ work, as highlighted by researcher De groote, makes the past more tangible, offering a vivid glimpse into the lives of our ancient ancestors.
