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April 28, 2009
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Ill-fated ice man may have suffered two assaults
Jan. 28, 2009
Courtesy Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität
München
and World Science staff
Scientists say they’ve revealed a new chapter in a murder case some 5,300 years old, reconstructing the timing of injuries that the world’s oldest “ice mummy” suffered in his dismal final days. Ötzi being examined by
a doctor. (Image courtesy Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität
München)
The man now dubbed Ötzi “endured at least two injuring events in his last days, which may imply two separate attacks,” said Andreas Nerlich, the study leader and pathologist at Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich, Germany.
The naturally mummified body was found in 1991 in the Schnalstal glacier in the Ötztal Alps, near the Austria-Italy border. Ötzi is giving science critical information about late Stone Age life. His copper axe, for example, reveals that metalworking was much more advanced in that era than was previously assumed, scientists say.
“Although the ice mummy has already been studied at great length, there are still new results to be gleaned,” said Nerlich. “The crime surrounding Ötzi is as thrilling as ever!”
Not for Ötzi, though. “Some time ago, we detected a deep cut wound on Ötzi’s hand that he must have survived for at least a couple of days,” said Nerlich. “Another team at about the same time found an arrow tip in Ötzi’s left armpit. The shaft of the arrow was missing, but there is an entry wound on the back.”
Ötzi probably died of internal bleeding because the arrow hit a main artery, the scientists added. He survived the arrow wound in his back for a few minutes to a few hours, and also suffered a blunt-object blow to the back shortly before his death, according to Nerlich and colleagues; the hand slash is days older.
A few centimeters below the entry wound they detected an additional slight skin discoloration, probably caused by the blow, the researchers said. In both cases, the researchers, using new detection methods, detected bleeding that was ultimately fatal.
Above the spine, they added, are more discolorations not associated with bleeding.
These probably occurred after death, due to the interment, for example, said Nerlich, who worked with colleagues including Eduard Egarter-Vigl, head of the Institute for Pathology in Bolzano, Italy.
“Ötzi had only shortly survived the arrow wound and the blow on the back,” Nerlich summarized. “At least a couple of days before his death, however, he sustained a severe cut wound on his right hand. Over several days, then, Ötzi suffered at least two injuring events.”
In the 1990s, Austrian scientists found that Ötzi’s last meal wasn’t much to lift the spirits, either: a bit of hard bread. Klaus Öggl, a botanist from the University of Innsbruck, Austria, has said that it seems Ötzi died having wandered from a relatively hospitable valley—carrying
almost no food—to try to cross a harsh mountain pass, but scientists
aren’t sure why he did it.
Nerlich’s study appears in the January online issue of the research
journal Intensive Care Medicine.
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Researchers say they’ve revealed a new chapter in a murder case some 5,300 years old, reconstructing the timing of injuries that the world’s oldest “ice mummy” suffered in his dismal final days. The man now dubbed Ötzi “endured at least two injuring events in his last days, which may imply two separate attacks,” said Andreas Nerlich, the study leader and pathologist at Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich, Germany. The naturally mummified body was found in 1991 in the Schnalstal glacier in the Ötztal Alps, near the Austria-Italy border. Ötzi is giving science critical information about late Stone Age life. His copper axe, for example, reveals that metalworking was already much more advanced in that era than was previously assumed, scientists say. “Although the ice mummy has already been studied at great length, there are still new results to be gleaned,” said Nerlich. “The crime surrounding Ötzi is as thrilling as ever!” Not for Ötzi, though. “Some time ago, we detected a deep cut wound on Ötzi’s hand that he must have survived for at least a couple of days,” said Nerlich. “Another team at about the same time found an arrow tip in Ötzi’s left armpit. The shaft of the arrow was missing, but there is an entry wound on the back.” Ötzi probably died of internal bleeding because the arrow hit a main artery, the scientists added. He survived the arrow wound in his back for a few minutes to a few hours, and also suffered a blunt-object blow to the back shortly before his death, according to Nerlich and colleagues; the hand slash is days older. A few centimeters below the entry wound they detected an additional slight skin discoloration, probably caused by the blow, the researchers said. In both cases, the researchers, using new detection methods, detected bleeding that was ultimately fatal. Above the spine are more discolorations that not associated with bleeding. They probably occurred after the man’s death, due to his interment, for example, said Nerlich, who worked with colleagues including Eduard Egarter-Vigl, head of the Institute for Pathology in Bolzano, Italy. “Ötzi had only shortly survived the arrow wound and the blow on the back,” Nerlich summarized. “At least a couple of days before his death, however, he sustained a severe cut wound on his right hand. Over several days, then, Ötzi suffered at least two injuring events – which could point towards two separate attacks.” In the 1990s, Austrian scientists found that Ötzi’s last meal wasn’t much something to lift the spirits, either: a bit of hard bread. Klaus Oeggl, a botanist from the University of Innsbruck, Austria, has said that it seems Ötzi died having wandered from a relatively hospitable valley—carrying little water or food—to try to cross a harsh mountain pass, but scientists don’t know why he did it.