Why should Catholics care about the face of a woman who died 10,000 years ago in what is now Belgium? Because every human life, created in the image and likeness of God, carries a story that reveals something sacred about our shared humanity. Thanks to the collaboration of scientists and artists, we can now see that story come to life—through the reconstructed face of the so-called “Meuse Woman.”
Discovered in the Margaux caves in 1988 and now studied in detail by researchers at Ghent University, Meuse Woman lived during the Mesolithic period—long before Stonehenge was built. Her DNA reveals a person who, as Professor Isabelle De Groote explained to the Daily Mail, had “dark hair, blue eyes and lighter-coloured skin than many other Europeans of the same era.” This, scientists believe, is due to her tribe’s nomadic lifestyle: “She and her tribe were probably nomads who wandered over great distances.”
This woman’s reconstructed appearance, created by Dutch twin brothers Adrie and Alfons Kennis using resin and silicone, is more than a scientific achievement—it is a visual reminder of the dignity of early man. Although we know little about her death, De Groote notes, “we do not see a blow to the head in her, for example.” Her burial site, which contained only female skeletons, showed signs of ritual practice. “The skulls were scalped and manipulated with ochre, possibly as a burial ritual,” De Groote said. That women alone were buried in such a way “is striking.”
Archaeologists found tools, animal bones, hazelnuts, and post holes near the remains, pointing to a people who lived in deep harmony with nature. “They used animal parts for clothing, tools, and bindings, and may have domesticated dogs,” De Groote added. These early humans—hunter-gatherers who crafted weapons and containers—were not primitive brutes, but skilled artisans and stewards of the land, created with intelligence and purpose.
As Catholics, we affirm that all of human history belongs to God’s divine plan. To behold the face of Meuse Woman is to marvel not only at the miracle of modern science, but at the continuity of God’s creative work in every time and place. She may not have known Scripture, but she lived close to the rhythms of creation, and her life—now revealed—invites us to contemplate our own place in salvation history.
Her story, and her face, are not mere curiosities—they are icons of what it means to be human. As we learn more about our ancient ancestors, may we grow in reverence for the mystery and dignity of life itself.
