His belongings, scattered around the body, included a bow and quiver with arrows, a complete copper-bladed axe, a flint dagger with a wicker sheath, two birch wood vessels clad with maple leaves, remnants of a backpack, a leather pouch with small objects, fur and leather garments, shoes, and other minor artifacts.
What was significant about �tzi the Iceman when he was found in the Alps?
His nickname, �tzi, stems from the �tztal Alps, where he was found. It was at first believed that the Iceman was free of diseases, but in 2007 researchers discovered that his body had been infested with whipworm and that he had suffered from arthritis; neither of these conditions contributed to his death.
Why was �tzi’s discovery important?
�tzi’s sudden death in the ice has preserved him virtually unchanged for thousands of years, giving us a snapshot of the routine life of a Copper Age man. Until �tzi’s discovery, we had no exact knowledge about technological skills of late Neolithic people. Organic materials had rarely been preserved.
What was the most unique findings in the �tzi the Iceman discovery?
At first, it was believed that Otzi had died from exposure, but in 2001 an X-ray revealed that there was a stone arrowhead embedded in his left shoulder.
What was �tzi’s DNA?
�tzi and his long-lost relatives fall into a rare European haplogroup and sub category (known as G-L91). Each haplogroup represents an isolated population of ancient people whose unique genetic mutations can tie them to a particular geographical location�the �ztal Alps in this case�and early migratory routes.
Why did �tzi not decompose?
Studies by Oeggl of a tiny sample of food residue from �tzi’s colon have revealed the presence of the pollen of a small tree called hop hornbeam. Strikingly, much of that pollen has retained its cellular contents, which normally decay swiftly.
Was �tzi a healthy man?
�tzi’s health
The iceman is one of the most studied mummies in the world: Researchers now know that he had bad teeth and knees; lactose intolerance; a probable case of Lyme disease; stomach bacteria that causes ulcers; and 61 tattoos inked on his body, Live Science previously reported.
What was �tzi doing when he died?
A wounded�and possibly wanted�man, �tzi the Iceman spent his final days on the move high up in the Alps until he was felled with an arrow to the back.
What story does it tells in the Iceman in the Alps?
In 1991, a hiker discovered the mummified, 5,300-year-old body of a man who had died in the �tzal Alps along the border of Austria and Italy. Nicknamed �tzi, the frozen corpse was so well-preserved that its injuries and stomach contents have helped researchers reconstruct the story of his last days in the mountains.