Dr Tobias Houlton

Dr Tobias Houlton’s research sits at the forefront of craniofacial identification and forensic imaging, integrating forensic science, anatomical expertise, digital visualization technologies, and cultural heritage to transform how human identity is reconstructed across both contemporary and historical contexts. His work enhances methodological precision and ethical standards in facial identification, contributing significantly to forensic casework, archaeological interpretation, and heritage analysis. Through innovative approaches to facial approximation and forensic imaging, Dr Houlton fosters a deeper societal understanding of identity through scientifically grounded and visually compelling narratives.

His interdisciplinary expertise extends to the cultural and ethical dimensions of working with human remains. His doctoral research examined South American mummification practices—specifically tsantsa (shrunken heads)— employing cutting-edge imaging technologies to examine the preservation of facial tissues, while also exploring the cultural significance and ethical considerations surrounding their handling, display, and repatriation.

Dr Houlton is actively engaged in standard-setting initiatives through academic and industry partnerships, with particular emphasis on advancing best practices in facial image comparison and facial approximation. He has been awarded several prestigious grants, including a Leverhulme Study Abroad Studentship that supported the development of forensic facial approximation protocols in collaboration with the South African Police Service. His current Collaborate for Impact (C4I)-funded project with Locate International aims to improve the accessibility and effectiveness of unidentified persons databases, contributing to more successful identification outcomes.

He also serves as Co-Investigator on the Visible Disabilities in Pre-Modern Europe initiative—an ambitious international collaboration that reconstructs the lived experiences of individuals with physical impairments from the past. By applying interdisciplinary methods, this project seeks to challenge conventional historical narratives and promote more grounded and inclusive understandings of disability through time.

Supervision 

PhD:

• Advancing facial approximation: Towards evidence-based practices in Forensic Anthropology.
• Developing the standards used in facial approximation: a linear measurement and geometric morphometric investigation of the eye in a South Korean Population.
• Testing forensic facial comparison performance utilising 2D and 3D methods of analysis.
• A novel method for comparison of anterior 2D and 3D dental profiles as a form of facial identification.
• Patterns of facial decomposition in facial comparison and the utility of facial approximation in digitally reversing decomposition changes.
• In Vivo Reconstruction of the Insular Pleistocene Mammals of Greece.

MRes:

• A validation study of newly established ear morphology prediction guidelines in facial approximation.

Dr Houlton teaches on postgraduate courses in subjects related to anatomy, biological and forensic anthropology, forensic art and facial imaging, and medical art. 

Consultancy 

Dr. Houlton welcomes consultancy projects in forensic imaging and facial identification, including but not limited to:

• Skull reconstruction and/or facial approximation (reconstruction)
  Skull reconstruction of fragmented remains and facial approximation involve analysing a skull’s anatomical features to recreate the appearance of an individual. This process applies anatomical standards and guidelines to generate a visual representation, assisting in forensic investigations or enhancing the visibility of archaeological projects when only skeletal remains are available.
• Craniofacial Superimposition
  This involves the analysis and comparison of a skull with an image of a face to estimate if they align and represent the same individual. Using a deep understanding of the craniofacial complex, this technique utilizes advanced digital imaging methods to position a 3D skull over a facial image, refining the alignment based on anatomical features. It is commonly employed in forensic investigations to assist in the investigation of unidentified remains with assumed missing person images.
• Forensic image analysis and facial comparison
  This involves the analysis, comparison and evaluation of facial images to determine if questioned and target images come from the same person or different people to assist in forensic investigations. This involves working with images from various sources, such as CCTV footage, missing persons reports, and unidentified decedent databases.
• Artificial age progression
  This technique uses forensic imaging and digital manipulation to predict how an individual might look at a later stage of life. It is commonly used in missing persons cases, especially for children, to estimate their appearance years or decades after the last known image or record, assisting law enforcement in locating them.
• Postmortem depiction
  Postmortem depiction involves editing and enhancing postmortem images, such as photographs of deceased individuals, to provide a more sensitive and respectful visual representation. This process can involve improving image quality, removing trauma, and adjusting for media release purposes in unidentified person inquiries, helping to avoid public distress while supporting identification efforts.
• Composite Imaging
  Dr. Houlton is trained in cognitive interviewing techniques to support eyewitness memory and generate composite images. Using the eyewitness’s recollections, Dr. Houlton can assist law enforcement in creating a visual depiction from the mind’s eye of a witness. This process supports investigative efforts, helping to generate facial composites that aid in suspect identification.
• 2D and 3D image capture 
  This service encompasses both 2D and 3D imaging techniques, including specialist photography (i.e., digital SLR, infrared reflectography) and surface scanning. It applies to a variety of subjects, from human and non-human remains to artifacts in modern archaeological or historical contexts. The resulting high-resolution images allow for detailed analysis, digital preservation, and the reconstruction of objects, enabling research and identification across multiple disciplines.
• Analysis of mummified remains from South America, specialising in tsantsa (shrunken heads)
  This service involves the scientific analysis of mummified remains, with a particular focus on tsantsa (shrunken heads). Dr Houlton specialises in distinguishing ceremonial tsantsa from commercial shrunken heads by examining their anatomical features and decorative elements. His expertise aids in determining whether the remains are human or non-human and plays a crucial role in informing ethical decisions related to repatriation and cultural preservation.