The world's oldest mummy, the Italian Iceman known as Otzi,
is shown in this undated file photo. Otzi died from a
shoulder wound inflicted by an arrow, according to research
into his perfectly preserved 5,000-year old body.
(Werner Nosko/Reuters)
Posted on 06/06/2007 9:43:47 AM PDT by Pharmboy
The world's oldest mummy, the Italian Iceman known as Otzi,
is shown in this undated file photo. Otzi died from a
shoulder wound inflicted by an arrow, according to research
into his perfectly preserved 5,000-year old body.
(Werner Nosko/Reuters)
Italy's prehistoric iceman "Otzi" died from a shoulder wound inflicted by an arrow, according to research into his perfectly preserved 5,000-year old body.
Otzi, the oldest mummy unearthed, was found in the Italian Alps in 1991 wearing clothing made from leather and grasses and carrying a copper axe, a bow and arrows.
Though Otzi's body underwent several scientific tests to study life in the prehistoric age, it had so far been unclear whether he died from an arrow wound, a bad fall or severe freezing while climbing the high mountains.
Using modern X-ray technology, however, an Italian-Swiss research team said on Wednesday it had proved the cause of death as a lesion on an artery close to the shoulder, caused by an arrowhead that remains in the iceman's back.
A large haematoma -- or a collection of blood due to internal bleeding -- could also be seen in the surrounding tissue, and the iceman probably died shortly after the lesion was caused, researchers concluded.
Researchers had previously suggested he was killed by a rival hunter after putting up a fight, and concluded that his final meals consisted of venison and ibex meat.
The latest results on the research appeared online in the Journal of Archaeological Science and will be published in the National Geographic next month.
Ibex meat.
Excellent point. The last I read he was being kept in a refrigerated storage area. Perhaps after they are finished with their research, they will inter him properly.
Otzi-no Man
This is actually old news, and there have been more research findings released.
According to DNA evidence from Otzi there was much more of a fight than they suspected..
Otzi had severe bruising on his ribs probably from some kind of club. He had defensive cuts on his hands as one would find in a knife fight. His own knife had blood on it from someone other than Otzi, and his grass cape had yet another individual’s blood on it. Further, two of his arrow heads had blood from two other people, and they must have been fatal shots since he retrieved the arrows.
My guess is that he was in some sort of raid or battle, his side lost and retreated up the mountain, with Otzi perhaps carrying a wounded comrade. He was pursued, shot, but lasted long enough to hide and was frozen.
I had read some of what you report here, but this was the first time I had read that they determined a cause for his death. But thanks for adding the other info...
Running away, then he was probably a liberal.
Good up-to-date overview, thanks.
Why not? If we have learned everything that we can or should from toting the remains around for years, why shouldn't we show a little respect?
Additionally, there is technology available today to make exacting copies of most anything, including remains and burial containers, and there is really no need to keep something so personal as remains on display. Apparently King Tut was buried for a reason.
"“Ötzi” (”Similaun Man”) is beyond caring.
Do you have some evidence along those lines?
...found in the Italian Alps in 1991 wearing clothing made from leather and grasses and carrying a copper axe, a bow and arrows
The ODAW?
The Original Darwin Award Winner?
I believe haplogroup 'K' is generally associated with the Middle East farmers who migrated to Europe. Thomas Jefferson is haplogroup 'K', Famous DNA
Please FREEPMAIL me if you want on or off the
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-- Archaeology/Anthropology/Ancient Cultures/Artifacts/Antiquities, etc.
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Since a bow and arrows were found on scene in his possession, I would have to say this is probably a suicide.
>>”Ötzi is beyond caring.”
Do you have some evidence along those lines?<<
Let me rephrase that: There is no objective, scientific evidence that Ötzi cares one way or the other.
Fair enough. But since there is no objective evidence in any particular direction, it wouldn't hurt to err on the side of what civilized society considers treating remains with dignity and respect.
Re: Helen Thomas
“She was traveling in France at the time, I believe...”
Yes, she was chasing after neanderthal hordes with a mattress strapped to her back.
So easy, even a caveman could do her.
He was in a border region between Italy and Austria.
But I doubt if he was Bush-wacked. They had no immigration laws back then, so he wasn’t a minute-man.
Brad Pitt has Otzi tattooed on his arm. I still say its Jolie’s skinny arse.
I am truly LOLing here in my office...
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