Through more than 2,000 years, can we see the true face of the ancients? With the help of AI, this is becoming a reality.
On May 17, Mrs. Xin Chai, known as the "Oriental Sleeping Beauty", was incarnated as a 3D digital person and appeared in front of the world. This is the 50th anniversary of the completion of the archaeological excavation of the Mawangdui Han Tomb and a major application in the field of digitalization.
Mawangdui Han Tomb is the tomb of the prime minister of Changsha in the Western Han Dynasty and the family of three of Hou Licang, and is one of the most significant archaeological discoveries in the 20th century. The body of Mrs. Xin Chai unearthed from Tomb No. 1 is the longest preserved wet corpse found in the world, and it is of great significance for the Hunan Museum to digitally restore Mrs. Xin Chai as the prototype.
The digital person "Mrs. Xin Chai" is lifelike: she is in a sitting position, about 35 years old, her skin texture is clearly visible, her hair material is highly realistic, her clothing and makeup are restored 1:1 according to the unearthed cultural relics, and the body shape and even the details of her hands are also restored according to historical records and the situation when it was unearthed.
What is the difficulty in maximizing restoration?
Xin was unearthed in the 70s of the last century, when medical imaging equipment was limited, and only X-rays of his skull were performed.
"Xin was found with a complete appearance, moisturized all over the body, soft and elastic subcutaneous soft tissues, some joints could be moved, even eyelashes still existed, fingers and toe lines were clearly distinguishable, and it was estimated that he was about 50 years old." Duan Xiaoming, director of the Hunan Museum, said that when it was unearthed, his face was swollen, deformed and corrupted, and his appearance before his death was unknown.
In 2002, the Hunan Museum launched a version of Xin Chai's face restoration. However, due to technical limitations, this restoration has left regrets.
The accumulation of technical support and archaeological research has made it possible to restore more authenticity.
"The surviving image data of that year provides an important reference for judging the cranial shape and facial shape." Yuan Zhongbiao, an expert in craniofacial reconstruction in China, said.
The expert team calculated the structural shape of the skull and the proportional relationship of facial features through existing X-rays, on-site observation and model measurements, and combined with modern technology to construct a data model of the skull.
"Portrait features are ever-changing, only the types are similar, but not identical, and it is necessary to repeatedly study and demonstrate and modify the details according to the laws of craniofacial relationships mastered in many years of work." Yuan Zhongbiao said.
How to make "Mrs. Xin Chai" more vivid? Hyper-realistic digital human technology to help.
Through high-precision human modeling technology, the tiny biological features of the human body can be restored, and the pores of the human face are clearly visible.
"Xin Chai, who was first restored, was about 50 years old, and we used AI painting, large models and other related technologies to construct virtual digital human images of different ages." Zhang Rihui, general manager of Changsha Digital Whale Technology Co., Ltd., introduced.
Recovery doesn't stop. From "living" to "moving", the interactive version of the "Mrs. Xin Chai" AI agent is expected to be launched in the second half of the year. She will explain cultural relics and talk in real time, which will take you over the millennium and talk about the Han Dynasty.
With the blessing of modern science and technology, the study of cultural relics has temperature, and the process restores the soul.
From more than 2,000 years ago, "Mrs. Xin Chai" can be seen and felt. Dunhuang, the Forbidden City, Sanxingdui, etc., through digitization, bring many cultural relics to life, and also make the thick history and culture more touchable.
Source: Xinhua News Agency
Editor│Cao Shanshan first trial│Dai Kaiqin, Hu Yunhong, second trial│Yuan Jintao, third trial│Su Tiantian│Kaifu District Rong Media Center Submission mailbox丨 [email protected]
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