The face of a woman from the 18th century whose skull was found in Edinburgh has been revealed for the first time, shining new light on the city's murky medical past.

A reconstruction has been made of a woman, whose remains were found on Infirmary Street in 1993.

The woman, who was in her 20s or early 30s, was interred in a church graveyard in 1749 used to bury patients who were "unclaimed."

Forensic analysis has revealed her teeth were removed after a post-mortem, most likely by staff at the old Royal Infirmary.

The reconstruction will form part of an exhibit at the City Art Centre showcasing the Old Town's history.

Experts believe the teeth would have been stolen to supply demand for "false" teeth in the 18th century.

Josie Ide from Dundee University created the facial reconstruction.

The woman was buried in the grounds of Lady Yester's Church, near the practice of Dr Knox - who traded with the infamous grave robbers Burke and Hare.

John Lawson, an archaeologist at Edinburgh City Council, said: "In 18th century Edinburgh, the Royal Infirmary became one of the UK's most important hospitals.

"The city was quickly establishing a name for itself as a centre for medical excellence and the findings of the hospital physicians significantly developed enlightened medical research.

"However, this quest to advance medical science had a well-known dark side. It could be difficult to trace a deceased patient's relatives, and indeed many families were too poor to provide a proper burial."

He continued: "As the move towards grave robbing in the later 18th and early 19th centuries tell us, such readily available bodies for research were in great demand.

"This led medics and hospital staff to meddle with Edinburgh's criminal underworld.

"This woman's teeth were almost certainly removed post-autopsy, most likely by one of the hospital porters.

"Help was possibly provided by one of the nurses or washerwomen charged with preparing the deceased for burial. These staff were poorly paid and corruption was commonplace.

"Such teeth, therefore, made a tempting and significant addition to a wage packet."

The facial reconstruction is part of the O display in the Edinburgh Alphabet exhibition, which focuses on the Old Town. It is open to visitors for free and runs until October.

Lynne Halfpenny, Edinburgh City Council's culture director, said: "We have chosen themes for each letter of the alphabet around which each exhibit can be grouped, allowing for a display of incredible variety and colour.

"The collection tells us so much about life in Edinburgh from the cradle to the grave.

"This exhibit reveals an early move towards criminal medical practice, with the subject's teeth removed illicitly for money-making purposes.

"By putting a face to the finding, we hope to introduce visitors to this grisly but ultimately important part of the Old Town's rich history."