Posted on 08/29/2007 9:26:19 AM PDT by blam
Researchers say Italy's 5,000-year-old Iceman died from head trauma, not arrow
The Associated PressPublished: August 28, 2007
ROME, Italy: Researchers studying Iceman, the 5,000-year-old mummy found frozen in the Italian Alps, have come up with a new theory for how he died, saying he died from head trauma, not by bleeding to death from an arrow.
Just two months ago, researchers in Switzerland published an article in the Journal of Archaeological Science saying the mummy — also known as Oetzi — had died after the arrow tore a hole in an artery beneath his left collarbone, leading to massive loss of blood, shock and heart attack.
But radiologists, pathologists and other researchers, using new forensic information and CAT scans, said Tuesday they believed that the blood loss from the arrow wound only made Oetzi lose consciousness. They believe he died either by hitting his head on a rock when he passed out or because his aggressor attacked him again with a blow to the head.
The researchers presented their findings Monday night at the Institute for Mummies and the Iceman at the European Academy in Bolzano, a research institution. The mummy institute was launched in July to coordinate research into Oetzi, who is housed in the nearby South Tyrol Archaeological Museum.
In a statement Tuesday, the academy said the findings reopened the debate over Oetzi's cause of death, particularly since they took into account the rather unnatural way in which his body was found: face down, with his left arm across his chest.
The researchers believe the Iceman fell over backward, but was then turned over onto his stomach by his aggressor who then pulled out the arrow shaft while leaving the arrowhead imbedded in Oetzi's shoulder.
(Excerpt) Read more at iht.com ...
It was Colonel Mustard in the Alps with the Club!
I would write that you are incorrigible, but you would reply that you have never in your life visited corrigible.
True. And in a related case of oh the hugh manatee, I have never been in a dirigible.
Actually, he is quite easily incorraged. He’s both hoarse and corraged. It’s hard to discorrage him, even with coaching.
Quincy? I think Monk wanted to solve this, but was pulled away.
Thanks for the ping!
You’re welcome! One more entry for DSL?
Poor Oetzi, RIP.
LOLOL!
How do we know that Oetzi wasn't the aggressor, and the arrow and the blow to the head were from someone successfully defending himself from Oetzi's predations? I think Oetzi had it coming.
Are we paying for this research???? Can we try and find out why 2300 children a year are going blind because Africa can't figure out how to grow carrots? Cancer? Heart Disease? Cerebral Palsy?
*hums Too Much Time On Their Hands*
Thank you so much for the ping to fun with puns...!
CSI Balanzo
Not when it’s found in the collar bone.
Then shot himself in the collar bone with an arrow. Clumsy chap.
His heirs will take comfort in knowing that John Edwards will now sue the entity responsible for the maintenance of the path and its successors.
Good points, but it might not have been solo combat, two groups might have met, one opponent shot him with an arrow, another bashed in his head. They were too busy with his comrades to worry about looting his corpse at the time (and may not have survived the encounter.)
The arrow could have been broken off and lost in any number of ways.
Death by head trauma. Incipient ROP at play?
Does this mean we should have banned arrows and clubs?
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