After learning about the Franklin Expedition and the explorers’ icy demise I remembered hearing about another frozen discovery from a few years ago. Europe’s oldest natural mummy, or Otzi is the remains of a man found in the ice of the Italian Alps and he was discovered in 1991. It is believed that Otzi lived around 3,300 BCE and it can be estimated that he died between the years of 3239 and 3105 BCE. Although he is so old much has been learned about Otzi. He is estimated to have been around 5’5 and probably weighed about 110 lbs. He was so well preserved that based off of the composition of his tooth enamel scientists could even estimate where he spent his childhood, which was an area in Italy about 50 kms away from where he died. The contents of his stomach showed that his last meal consisted of deer meat, roots, a kind of bread, and fruits.
Scientists were also able to analyze Otzi’s health, and it seems pretty good considering he’s from 3,300 BCE. He had evidence of an intestinal parasite, Lyme’s disease, cavities, lactose intolerance, and broken ribs that he likely obtained around the time of his death. His DNA was also able to be analyzed and it is believed that he was infertile, something that perhaps would have made him an outcast in his society.
Much was also determined about the culture that Otzi lived in by the possessions he still had when he was found in the ice. He had a copper axe blade, a knife made out of flint, and a quiver full of arrows. He also had the remains of baskets with berries and fungi collected in them. His clothes included a cloak, coat, leggings, a loincloth, shoes, and a cap all made from various animal furs and leathers and sewn together with sinew. Otzi also had several tattoos all over his body created from carbon. One theory is that these are more than decorative and may have been part of a treatment for joint pain.
Even though much has been discovered about Otzi there are still several theories about how he died. One is that he was in the mountains and died from exposure in a blizzard. But he also had an arrow wound in his shoulder and other injuries so another more interesting theory is that he died after a struggle with other people. This theory is supported by further evidence that there is blood from multiple people on the clothing and weapons that Otzi had with him. There is also some speculation that he may have been a part of a ritual death, but there is less evidence to support this theory.
I think that is it really amazing that so much can be learned about the remains of someone who died so long ago. The fact that his health, diet, and ways of life can be learned even after being in ice for thousands of years shows just how far science has come. A lot can be learned about a culture from one individual and to make Otzi even more archeologically intriguing, he even has own curse associated with him.