Ten years after the first analysis of Ötzi’s genome, improved sequencing technology has now enabled a research team from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology and Eurac Research to reconstruct the Iceman’s genetic make up much more accurately. It shows that he had darker skin than previously thought, was most likely bald, and only eight percent of his genes are of European ancestry. Archaeogeneticist Johannes Krause and anthropologist Albert Zink explain the findings.

Interview with archaeogeneticist Johannes Krause and anthropologist Albert Zink 

“The fact that Ötzi is 92 percent Anatolian may come as a surprise to many”

A research team used advanced sequencing technology to analyze Ötzi’s genome to obtain a more accurate picture of the Iceman’s appearance and genetic origins.

Dark skin, bald head, Anatolian ancestry: The latest findings from the Iceman’s genome

Produrre birra è un mestiere, un’arte e una scienza. E un ramo della sua produzione può anche cambiare positivamente l’Alto Adige. Ne è convinto Christian Hoffmann, esperto di sviluppo regionale, che durante un workshop al Bolzano Beer Craft Festival, discuterà con esperti e politici di come rendere più regionale la filiera dal campo alla spina. Il microbiologo Frank Maixner racconterà cosa ha scoperto sul consumo di birra dei minatori di Hallstatt nell’età del ferro e, insieme a un “cacciatore di lieviti”, spiegherà le varietà del più antico animale domestico dell’umanità.

Al Beer Craft Festival un esperto di sviluppo regionale e due microbiologi spiegheranno la ricerca dietro questa bevanda

Di birra vecchia e nuova

Paleopathologist Albert Zink reconstructs the co-evolution of humankind and our illnesses. In this conversation, he explains how he disentangles traces of messy ancient DNA and then puts them all back together. And why an unhealthy lifestyle isn’t the primary cause of clogged blood vessels.

Paleopathologist Albert Zink explains how to untangle the chaos of ancient genetic traces and why blood vessel calcification is not just due to a bad lifestyle.

What Ancient DNA Reveals About Modern Diseases


The well-preserved female mummy was found in 1975 during construction work in Basel's Barfüsserkirche. Since 2018, thanks to interdisciplinary cooperation under the direction of the Natural History Museum Basel, it is known that the woman Anna Catharina Bischoff, was a pastor's widow who died in 1787. At first it was suspected that she had suffered from syphilis, but now a research team has discovered an unknown pathogen in tissue samples. 

A research team can clarify which disease “the lady from the Barfüsserkirche” suffered from.

Mystery of the Basel mummy solved

In 1975, a female mummy interred in the Barfüsserkirche in Basel, Switzerland was found.  Her identity had for decades been a mystery until recently, with the help of genetic analyses, a research team from Eurac Research contributed decisively to unveiling her story. Who the lady was has now been revealed and, so have some further mysteries. 

A well-preserved church mummy from the 18th century has proven to be a fascinating object of research in many respects

The secrets of a lady from Basel

A paleogenetic study conducted on the skeletal remains of 94 individuals found at 11 archaeological sites in South Tyrol and dating from the period between the 5th and 12th centuries AD suggests that people moved around and admixed with other European groups, albeit with some interesting differences. Diet was also varied to arrive at these conclusions, the research team analyzed complete mitochondrial DNA transmitted through the maternal line as well as isotopes that provided information on diet and mobility. 

Bioarchaeology indicates exchanges with other populations and a varied diet 

South Tyrol in the Early Middle Ages

In this interview, Physician Jochen Weber and Paleogeneticist Albert Zink explain what ancient bone finds reveal about early disease patterns and the benefits modern medicine can derive from this bioarcheological record.

An interview with the authors of the first German textbook on "Osteological Paleopathology".

Old bones - new knowledge

And though this question will remain unanswered, mummy researcher Albert Zink has already elicited many other secrets from the Iceman. Considering that the melting glaciers will probably uncover even more finds in the future, the idea of preparing for excavations at icy heights in the terraXcube is a promising one for him: the extreme climate simulator can reproduce any climatic condition in the world. It’s director Christian Steurer thinks this is realistic: mountain rescuers are already training in the terraXcube so they are able to operate in extreme weather. 

Conversations between disciplines: interview with mummy researcher Albert Zink and telecommunications engineer Christian Steurer.

"Maybe Ötzi was a mean guy?"

**Recent studies demonstrate the potential to recover ancient human DNA and nuclear DNA from cave sediments. However, the source of such sedimentary ancient DNA is still under discussion. Here we report the case of a Bronze Age human skeleton, found in a limestone cave, which was covered with layers of calcite stone deposits.**

From Egypt to Italy via Germany, Mohamed Sarhan’s investigation of plant and soil microbes could change the practice of bioarcheology as we know it.

Ancient Imprints

Come si differenziavano dal punto di vista genetico gli abitanti delle valli altoatesine nell’alto medioevo? In Eurac Research si cercano risposte nel DNA antico estratto da decine di scheletri. Il lavoro richiede forza e pazienza. 

Una visita alla bioarcheologa Valentina Coia, nel laboratorio per il DNA antico

Con il trapano in cerca di storia

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“The fact that Ötzi is 92 percent Anatolian may come as a surprise to many”self.__wrap_b(":Rija3aejlm:",1)

Interview with archaeogeneticist Johannes Krause and anthropologist Albert Zinkself.__wrap_b(":Rjja3aejlm:",1)

news

news

Dark skin, bald head, Anatolian ancestry: The latest findings from the Iceman’s genomeself.__wrap_b(":Rija5aejlm:",1)

A research team used advanced sequencing technology to analyze Ötzi’s genome to obtain a more accurate picture of the Iceman’s appearance and genetic origins.self.__wrap_b(":Rjja5aejlm:",1)

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Di birra vecchia e nuovaself.__wrap_b(":Rija7aejlm:",1)

Al Beer Craft Festival un esperto di sviluppo regionale e due microbiologi spiegheranno la ricerca dietro questa bevandaself.__wrap_b(":Rjja7aejlm:",1)

interview

interview

What Ancient DNA Reveals About Modern Diseasesself.__wrap_b(":Rija9aejlm:",1)

Paleopathologist Albert Zink explains how to untangle the chaos of ancient genetic traces and why blood vessel calcification is not just due to a bad lifestyle.self.__wrap_b(":Rjja9aejlm:",1)

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Mystery of the Basel mummy solvedself.__wrap_b(":Rijabaejlm:",1)

A research team can clarify which disease “the lady from the Barfüsserkirche” suffered from.self.__wrap_b(":Rjjabaejlm:",1)

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The secrets of a lady from Baselself.__wrap_b(":Rijadaejlm:",1)

A well-preserved church mummy from the 18th century has proven to be a fascinating object of research in many respectsself.__wrap_b(":Rjjadaejlm:",1)

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South Tyrol in the Early Middle Agesself.__wrap_b(":Rijafaejlm:",1)

Bioarchaeology indicates exchanges with other populations and a varied dietself.__wrap_b(":Rjjafaejlm:",1)

interview

interview

Old bones - new knowledgeself.__wrap_b(":Rijahaejlm:",1)

An interview with the authors of the first German textbook on "Osteological Paleopathology".self.__wrap_b(":Rjjahaejlm:",1)

interview

interview

"Maybe Ötzi was a mean guy?"self.__wrap_b(":Rijajaejlm:",1)

Conversations between disciplines: interview with mummy researcher Albert Zink and telecommunications engineer Christian Steurer.self.__wrap_b(":Rjjajaejlm:",1)

interview

interview

Ancient Imprintsself.__wrap_b(":Rijalaejlm:",1)

From Egypt to Italy via Germany, Mohamed Sarhan’s investigation of plant and soil microbes could change the practice of bioarcheology as we know it.self.__wrap_b(":Rjjalaejlm:",1)

article

Con il trapano in cerca di storiaself.__wrap_b(":Rijanaejlm:",1)

Una visita alla bioarcheologa Valentina Coia, nel laboratorio per il DNA anticoself.__wrap_b(":Rjjanaejlm:",1)

ancient dna
all tags

“The fact that Ötzi is 92 percent Anatolian may come as a surprise to many”

Interview with archaeogeneticist Johannes Krause and anthropologist Albert Zink

Dark skin, bald head, Anatolian ancestry: The latest findings from the Iceman’s genome

A research team used advanced sequencing technology to analyze Ötzi’s genome to obtain a more accurate picture of the Iceman’s appearance and genetic origins.

Di birra vecchia e nuova

Al Beer Craft Festival un esperto di sviluppo regionale e due microbiologi spiegheranno la ricerca dietro questa bevanda

What Ancient DNA Reveals About Modern Diseases

Paleopathologist Albert Zink explains how to untangle the chaos of ancient genetic traces and why blood vessel calcification is not just due to a bad lifestyle.

Mystery of the Basel mummy solved

A research team can clarify which disease “the lady from the Barfüsserkirche” suffered from.

The secrets of a lady from Basel

A well-preserved church mummy from the 18th century has proven to be a fascinating object of research in many respects

South Tyrol in the Early Middle Ages

Bioarchaeology indicates exchanges with other populations and a varied diet

Old bones - new knowledge

An interview with the authors of the first German textbook on "Osteological Paleopathology".

"Maybe Ötzi was a mean guy?"

Conversations between disciplines: interview with mummy researcher Albert Zink and telecommunications engineer Christian Steurer.

Ancient Imprints

From Egypt to Italy via Germany, Mohamed Sarhan’s investigation of plant and soil microbes could change the practice of bioarcheology as we know it.

Con il trapano in cerca di storia

Una visita alla bioarcheologa Valentina Coia, nel laboratorio per il DNA antico