*3.1. The Retrodeformation*

Most of the retrodeformation procedure intervened on the anteroposterior shift of the two sides of the skull (Figure 2c). In the frontal view (Figure 4a), the shift produces a relative enlargement of the piriform aperture, mainly on the left side, associated with a forward shift of the left rim and a slight retraction of the medial portion of the right rim. A slight 'relaxation' of the nasal profile in the superoinferior direction is apparent, as well as the symmetrisation of the general profile of the neurocranium, which is even more evident in the posterior view (Figure 4b). Symmetrisation of the occlusal plane of the teeth eliminates the unnatural downward displacement of the right maxilla along the midsagittal plane, which is present in the original specimen (Figure 4a,b).

The correction of the anteroposterior shift of the face along the midsagittal plane is also evident from the inferior view (Figure 4c), where the reduction of the slight clockwise rotation of the palate becomes apparent, accompanied by a deflation of the right postorbital portion of the neurocranium. In addition, the basicranium regained a more natural position, appearing straighter and medially placed in comparison with the original specimen, even though a slight deformation remains due to the lack of landmarks to be placed on this badly preserved portion. Preservation similarly affects the retrodeformation process of the flexion of the basicranium and the anteroposterior compression along the coronal suture (Figure 4d). In the lateral view (Figure 4d), the general profile of the neurocranium does not show any major changes. However, it is evident that the retrodeformation produces a retraction of the right portion of the face. Corresponding to the frontal squama, it is possible to see in transparency the previous position of the right side (Figure 4d), which was originally shifted forward according to the deformation directions illustrated in Figure 2.
