Here are some findings
from recent scientific studies conducted on the Iceman:
Ötzi's mitochondrial
DNA may trace descendents ancestors (4/30/08)
A new DNA study is
underway, conducted by Dr. Gianluca De Bellis of the CNR Institute of
Biomedical Technology and Professor Franco Rollo of the University of
Camerino, according to a press release issued by Roche Diagnostics.
Original DNA studies
suggested that "Oetzi’s mitochondrial
DNA does not resemble any sub-type found in any present existing
ethnic group." However, a new process, called Genome Sequencer
FLX from Roche Diagnostics, can purportedly "shed more light on
the subject of Oetzi’s descendents, and
establish his place in the genetic scenario of the present European
race. Furthermore, 454 Sequencing data will enable researchers to
trace Oetzi’s ancestors; and reconstruct
an accurate phylogenetic family tree, obtaining an authentic global
view of human evolution." Results are expected by summer
2008.
After this study is
completed, "De Bellis plans to study Oetzi’s
eating habits. Tissue samples that have been extracted from the mummy’s
colon will enable an analysis of his intestinal flora. The reason for
this investigation will be to compare the genes between the embryonic
digestive tube bacteria of Neolithic man with those of the present day
modern man...."
Study
proves how Ötzi died (6/6/07)
Swiss
researchers have used a multi-slice CT-scan at the University of Zurich to piece together views of the iceman's shoulder
and determine exactly how he died. They established that the point of
the arrow tore "a hole in an
artery beneath his left collarbone, leading to a massive loss of
blood. That, in turn, caused
Ötzi to go into shock and suffer a
heart attack, according to the article published online in the Journal
of Archaeological Science. Even today, the chances of surviving such
an injury long enough to receive hospital treatment are only 40
percent...."
Chief
researcher Frank Rühli said
that the Ct images show "a large hematoma, which means
he must have had huge bleeding into the thorax cavity." His death,
the scientists stated, would have been rather quick under these
circumstances.
These results
can be found in the current issue of the Journal of Archaeological
Science and will be published in the U.S. and German editions of National Geographic.
Study provides evidence that
Ötzi was probably killed by multiple assailants
near findspot (9/14/06):
For a long
time, scientists believed that the Iceman was a hunter who was killed by another
hunter's arrow in a mountain valley and managed to climb up the mountain where
he died. The primary evidence for this theory was the type of plant material
found in his stomach which suggested that he had been in a specific mountain
valley. However, a recent CAT-scan revealed that his arrow wound involved a
major artery. According to Bolzano Hospital pathologist Eduard
Egarter Vigl (who has studied the Iceman over the years), this indicates
that he pretty much died very near to where he was attacked and wounded, since he would not have
been able to take even one step before the enormous loss of blood from such a
wound killed him. (News story at ansa.it.)
Study
suggests that
Ötzi was a shepherd
(9/5/06):
From the
time of his discovery in 1991, scientists and others have speculated that the
Iceman was a hunter. But a recent study published in the Journal
of Human Evolution ("Body size, body proportions, and mobility in
the Tyrolean ' Iceman,' " volume 51, issue 1, July 2006) suggests that he
may have been a shepherd instead.
By studying Ötzi's
leg bones, primarily his tibia,
or shin bone, and comparing it to the shin bones of 139 other prehistoric men
who lived from the Mesolithic age (Middle Stone Age) and from the Neolithic
age (Late Stone Age), scientists led by Christopher
Ruff from John Hopkins University hoped to answer the question: how did
the Iceman's measure up?
The answer: "In
many respects, his tibia more closely resembles those of European Mesolithic
rather than Neolithic males, which may reflect a more mobile lifestyle than was
characteristic of most Neolithic males, perhaps related to a pastoral
subsistence strategy" (that is, work as a shepherd). According to Dr. Ruff,
The Iceman "evidently went for long walks over extremely hilly
terrain" and "was much more active than his contemporaries" as
reflected by the look of his tibia. Ruff continued, "He was more like the
people who came before" (that is the people from the Mesolithic Age) and
suggests that his occupation was "probably that of a high-altitude
shepherd." (News story at ansa.it.)
DNA
Tests Suggest: Ötzi
Died After Violent Fight But Not Alone (8/10/03):
Results of recent
DNA tests conducted by an Australian researcher have led to all sorts of new
speculation about Ötzi's final days. Like crime scene investigators, molecular
biologist Thomas Loy and his team (from the University of Queensland's Institute
of Molecular Bioscience in Brisbane) looked for blood traces on the Iceman, his
tools, and weapons. During their investigation, they saw further signs of trauma
to Ötzi's body, including bruises (and cuts) on his abdomen (especially on his
rib area), which (they concluded) indicates that he may have been beaten. They
found DNA from four different people other than the Iceman, and they carried out
each test twice to be certain of their findings.
Dr. Loy told a reporter from USA Today,
"We have been working round the clock for the last three weeks to get these
results. It was very exciting when the blood samples came back positive for
human DNA from four separate individuals."
Specifically, they took samples from the Iceman's
antler-skinning tool, his stone-tipped knife, two of his arrows (one broken),
his axe handle, and his goatskin coat. Using techniques devised especially for
ancient DNA, the team found four different DNA sequences: one on the knife
blade, two different sequences on one arrow, and a fourth on Ötzi's goatskin
coat. (They also found a small tear in the coat which may have been the entry
point of the arrowhead that was found embedded in his shoulder.)
They have interpreted these findings in this way:
1. The two different blood samples on the arrow
may indicate that Ötzi killed two of his assailants and retrieved the arrow to
use again.
2. The blood on his coat may indicate that Ötzi
carried a wounded friend on his shoulder for some distance.
Dr. Loy told news.com.au: "On the
basis of all my examinations, [Ötzi's] specialty was hunting the high alpine
passes for ibex and possibly chamois which would have taken him into boundary
conditions where other people would have disputed the territory. His gear was
stacked up neatly. He didn't keel over, although he was probably tired,
exhausted and hurt like hell."
The
Iceman's Wounded Hand (2/2003):
The February 2003
issue of the Smithsonian contains an article by Bob Cullen summarizing
what has been discovered about the Iceman. It is worth reading as a
general summary of the findings, but most important is the information it
contains about a dagger found near Ötzi.
A filmmaker working on a documentary for the
Discovery Channel interviewed one of the men who helped recover the Iceman's
body and learned that Ötzi may have been holding a dagger in his hand when he
was discovered. Dr. Egarter Vigl re-examined the Iceman's right hand in June
2002 and "found a small cut running from the palm of the right hand, just
below the index finger, over to the top side of the hand" (Smithsonian).
About 1.5 inches long and 6 mm. deep, the cut was discolored along the
edges, indicating that the injury happened when the Iceman was alive. Dr.
Egarter told author Cullen, "I think that the wound was very painful. Two
fingers are nearly immobilized." X-rays also revealed two cuts on the
underlying bones (of the palm and the wrist).
Additional study of the Iceman's body would help
clarify questions surrounding the cause of death: If the officials at the South
Tyrol Museum would grant permission, the arrowhead could be removed and an
endoscopy performed to determine if any nerves or blood vessels were severed.
Ötzi's
Last Meal (9/17/02):
Scientists at
the University of Camerino in Italy have published the results of their DNA
analysis of the contents of Otzi's intestines:
1. Ötzi first ate the meat of an ibex (wild
goat) along with some grains (and pollen).
2. The pollen found in his intestines
indicates that he hiked through "a coniferous forest at
mid-elevation." This is most likely the site where he ate his ibex meal.
3. At a higher altitude he ate another meal:
red deer and more grain. (For information about the final route that Ötzi
took, follow
this link.)
Results of the study were published in The
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Results of Ötzi's Colon Study
(10/23/01):
Researchers at the University
of Glasgow have released results of their study of the Iceman's colon: they
found whipworm parasite eggs. This means that Ötzi had a fairly severe
intestinal disorder which would have caused diarrhea or possibly dysentery.
Barley, meat, and a cereal grain known as einkorn were also found; these would
have comprised his last meal or meals.
Perhaps the most important finding was pollen,
ingested when he drank water from local streams. These pollens indicate that he
may well have died in late spring or even early summer, not in the fall (as some
researchers had suspected).
