Posted on 09/16/2002 7:32:42 PM PDT by blam
Last meal of Otzi the ice man revealed
The last meal of a prehistoric hunter-warrior frozen in ice for 5,000 years has been revealed by scientists.
DNA extracted from the body of the Tyrolean Iceman, also known as Otzi, showed that he dined on venison before being killed by an arrow probably shot by a rival.
Otzi's naturally mummified body was discovered entombed in ice in the Italian Alps in 1991.
It had been there for more than 5,000 years. Near the body researchers found leather and hide clothing and equipment, including a bow, a quiver full of arrows, and a copper axe.
Two years ago the corpse, now kept in cold storage at the South Tyrol Archaeological Museum in Bolzano, Italy, was fully defrosted for the first time.
Scientists collected DNA samples from the iceman's gut to find out about his diet.
DNA from various plants, animals and fungi was obtained, most of which did not represent anything eaten. Much of the "background" DNA arose from spores of conifers and ferns which had got into the body. There were also signs of fungus which had probably grown after the body became entrapped in ice.
But the scientists, led by Franco Rollo at the University of Camerino in Italy, also found traces of game, edible plants, and wheat-type cereal which are thought to be the remains of meals.
How Otzi was killed has been a matter of some debate. An arrowhead was found embedded in his left shoulder, which would not have killed him immediately.
The discovery of ibex and red deer DNA indicated that, whatever other social positions he may have had, the iceman was probably a hunter. Deer and boar hunters from Otzi's time period are known to have aimed their arrows and spears at the left shoulder, since this gave them the best chance of killing the prey at first shot.
Story filed: 00:26 Tuesday 17th September 2002
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