With piercing blue eyes and a slightly unsettling gaze, the reconstructed bust of Mos'an, a woman who lived around 10,500 years ago, is strikingly realistic.

The project, carried out at Ghent University in Belgium, combines science and art to explore the lives of the region's last hunter-gatherers during the Mesolithic era.

"The aim is not only to understand the genetics and kinship of these people, but also to communicate scientific knowledge to a wider audience," explains project leader Prof. Isabelle de Groot.

The skull chosen for reconstruction - named Mos'an by public vote in honour of the Meuse River valley - is one of the best preserved, containing a significant amount of DNA. This has allowed for a reconstruction with astonishing accuracy. The woman was between 35 and 60 years old when she died.

Genetic studies have revealed that Mos'an was part of the so-called Western hunter-gatherer group - with dark skin and blue eyes, similar to the famous Chedderman of Britain.

From skull to character: the craftsmanship of the Kennis brothers
The real life in the bust was breathed by Dutch "paleoartists" Alphonse and Adri Kennis, whose reputation places them among the most respected in the world of scientific reconstruction.

Following scientific guidelines - including the use of ochre in the decoration of the headband - the twins built every facial expression and muscle out of clay. Every element, from the duck feathers to the drilled animal teeth, is meticulously crafted.

"The most important thing is to breathe character, not just anatomy," says Alphonse Kennis.

"Forensic reconstruction gives form, but not soul."

Their work lasts about six months, and they draw inspiration from archival photos of first contacts between isolated tribes and explorers - moments marked by a mixture of curiosity, shyness and laughter.

Although visually revived, Mos'an still hides many secrets - scientists in Ghent continue to study her lifestyle and diet.

With a feather headband, golden skin and primitive tooth ornaments, she no longer looks like a nameless skeleton from the past, but like a woman we can meet face to face.

"I always dreamed of making these people more tangible," says de Groot. | BGNES, AFP