Bioarchaeological profiling and digital facial reconstruction of individual no. 95 from Mohacs mass grave 3

Luca Kis; Arpad Szabo; Viktor Vig; Marcos  De Andres Montero; Balazs Tihanyi; Zsolt Bereczki; Reka Kocsmar; Ramona Temple; Zoltan Maroti; Gergely I. Varga; Zsolt Geretovszky; Balazs Vajda; Orsolya Zay; Mark Haramza; Gabor Bertok; Reka Nemenyi; Gyorgy Palfi

doi:10.20330/AnthropKozl.2026.67s.41

Luca Kis Department of Biological Anthropology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
Arpad Szabo Department of Forensic Medicine, Albert Szent-Györgyi Clinical Center, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
Viktor Vig Department of Biological Anthropology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
Marcos De Andres Montero Department of Biological Anthropology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
Balazs Tihanyi Department of Biological Anthropology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary; Department of Archaeology, University of Szeged, Hungary
Zsolt Bereczki Department of Biological Anthropology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
Reka Kocsmar Department of Biological Anthropology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
Ramona Temple Department of Biological Anthropology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
Zoltan Maroti Department of Paediatrics and Paediatric Health Centre, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungar
Gergely I. Varga Department of Genetics, Institute of Biology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
Zsolt Geretovszky Department of Optics and Quantum Electronics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
Balazs Vajda Department of Optics and Quantum Electronics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
Orsolya Zay Institute of Archaeology, Eotvos Lorand University, Budapest, Hungary
Mark Haramza Janus Pannonius Museum, Pecs, Hungary
Gabor Bertok Janus Pannonius Museum, Pecs, Hungary
Reka Nemenyi Janus Pannonius Museum, Pecs, Hungary
Gyorgy Palfi Department of Biological Anthropology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary

DOI: https://doi.org/10.20330/AnthropKozl.2026.67s.41

Absztrakt

Background: Bioarchaeological investigations aim to reconstruct the biological profiles of past populations through the systematic analysis of human skeletal remains. Facial reconstruction is a specialized approach that complements these analyses by providing visual representations of historical individuals.

Objective: To present the comprehensive biological and facial reconstruction of individual No. 95, recovered from a mass grave associated with the 1526 Battle of Mohacs.

Materials and methods: The study combined bioarchaeological and archaeogenetic analyses with a digital facial reconstruction based on the Manchester method. Historical depictions of 16th-century European mercenaries guided the reconstruction of hairstyle, beard, and clothing.

Results: Individual No. 95 was a young adult male (25+ ys) with an estimated stature of 170–180 cm and a dental crossbite. A second skeletal unit (individual No. 60) may belong to the same person, although preservation prevented confirmation. Musculoskeletal markers indicate regular physical labour. At least 4–5 sharp-force injuries were identified on the head and neck, a facial reconstruction was created using osteological, genetic and archaeological evidence.

Conclusions: The integration of bioarchaeological, archaeogenetic, and digital facial reconstruction methods provides a detailed biological and visual reconstruction of an individual connected with the Battle of Mohacs. This interdisciplinary approach enhances our understanding of the lives and deaths of those buried in the Mohacs mass graves and demonstrates the value of combining scientific analyses with historical evidence.

Hivatkozások

References: None.