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

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?"

As an archaeogeneticist, Johannes Krause examines ancient DNA from archaeological finds and compares it with genomes from modern times. From this, conclusions can be drawn not only about the evolution of mankind, but also about the pathogens that have always affected us. Here he shares his findings on Ötzi's ancestors and present-day relatives, the plague as a bioweapon, and the benefits of his research for modern medicine.

An interview with the archaeogeneticist Johannes Krause

"We are creating the family tree of human history."

30 years after his discovery, many secrets about the Iceman have been solved, but thanks to new medical and molecular biological technologies, Ötzi and other mummified remains may soon help us better understand pathogens and their evolution. 

Ötzi & Co.

Since his discovery in 1991, Ötzi the Iceman has provided a trove of information about the life of Europeans at that time. His long-frozen remains have yielded information on diet, migration, disease and ancient DNA. 
Permanently housed at the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology, the mummy’s remains are stored in a specially devised cold cell and only viewable through a small window. Here we take a rare and up close look at Europe's oldest known natural human mummy.

Frozen but not forgotten, exceptional images of the 5,300 year-old Iceman brought to light in a new project and book

Ötzi's ink 

A tre decenni dal suo ritrovamento, molti segreti sull’Uomo venuto dal ghiaccio sono stati risolti: ora sappiamo come e dove visse, come morì, quale fu il suo ultimo pasto, quali malattie e quali parassiti lo tormentavano. Ma gli stimoli per ricerche da condurre nei prossimi anni non mancano. 

30 anni dal ritrovamento: bilanci e prospettive

Ötzi terrà impegnato ancora a lungo il mondo della ricerca

Fresh or dried game meat from ibex and red deer, einkorn wheat and traces of toxic bracken: these were the ingredients of the Iceman’s last meal. In an international study, led by researchers at the Eurac Research centre based in Bozen-Bolzano, scientists have examined the stomach contents of the glacier mummy for DNA, proteins, lipids and carbohydrates. Thanks to their findings, they were able for the first time to reconstruct what constituted a meal in the Copper Age. The results of this study were recently published in the renowned scientific journal “Current Biology”.

Mummy researchers from Eurac Research have analysed the stomach contents of the glacier mummy and reveal new insights into nutrition and food preparation from 5,300 years ago.

The Iceman’s last meal contained a remarkably high fat content

A study that was published today in Cell Host & Microbe explored for the first time the variation and evolution of Prevotella copri, a common human gut microbe. 

Ötzi proves it

Lifestyle is a threat to gut bacteria

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Ötzi
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interview

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

Interview with archaeogeneticist Johannes Krause and anthropologist Albert Zink

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news

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.

interview

interview

"Maybe Ötzi was a mean guy?"

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

interview

interview

"We are creating the family tree of human history."

An interview with the archaeogeneticist Johannes Krause

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Ötzi & Co.

30 years after his discovery, many secrets about the Iceman have been solved, but thanks to new medical and molecular biological technologies, Ötzi and other mummified remains may soon help us better understand pathogens and their evolution.

feature

feature

Ötzi's ink

Frozen but not forgotten, exceptional images of the 5,300 year-old Iceman brought to light in a new project and book

article

Ötzi terrà impegnato ancora a lungo il mondo della ricerca

30 anni dal ritrovamento: bilanci e prospettive

article

article

The Iceman’s last meal contained a remarkably high fat content

Mummy researchers from Eurac Research have analysed the stomach contents of the glacier mummy and reveal new insights into nutrition and food preparation from 5,300 years ago.

article

article

Lifestyle is a threat to gut bacteria

Ötzi proves it

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interview

interview

“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)

interview

interview

"Maybe Ötzi was a mean guy?"self.__wrap_b(":Rija7aejlm:",1)

Conversations between disciplines: interview with mummy researcher Albert Zink and telecommunications engineer Christian Steurer.self.__wrap_b(":Rjja7aejlm:",1)

interview

interview

"We are creating the family tree of human history."self.__wrap_b(":Rija9aejlm:",1)

An interview with the archaeogeneticist Johannes Krauseself.__wrap_b(":Rjja9aejlm:",1)

Topic

Topic

Ötzi & Co.self.__wrap_b(":Rlabaejlm:",1)

30 years after his discovery, many secrets about the Iceman have been solved, but thanks to new medical and molecular biological technologies, Ötzi and other mummified remains may soon help us better understand pathogens and their evolution. self.__wrap_b(":Rnabaejlm:",1)

feature

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Ötzi's inkself.__wrap_b(":Rijadaejlm:",1)

Frozen but not forgotten, exceptional images of the 5,300 year-old Iceman brought to light in a new project and bookself.__wrap_b(":Rjjadaejlm:",1)

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Ötzi terrà impegnato ancora a lungo il mondo della ricercaself.__wrap_b(":Rijafaejlm:",1)

30 anni dal ritrovamento: bilanci e prospettiveself.__wrap_b(":Rjjafaejlm:",1)

article

article

The Iceman’s last meal contained a remarkably high fat contentself.__wrap_b(":Rijahaejlm:",1)

Mummy researchers from Eurac Research have analysed the stomach contents of the glacier mummy and reveal new insights into nutrition and food preparation from 5,300 years ago.self.__wrap_b(":Rjjahaejlm:",1)

article

article

Lifestyle is a threat to gut bacteriaself.__wrap_b(":Rijajaejlm:",1)

Ötzi proves itself.__wrap_b(":Rjjajaejlm:",1)

Ötzi
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.

"Maybe Ötzi was a mean guy?"

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

"We are creating the family tree of human history."

An interview with the archaeogeneticist Johannes Krause

Ötzi & Co.

30 years after his discovery, many secrets about the Iceman have been solved, but thanks to new medical and molecular biological technologies, Ötzi and other mummified remains may soon help us better understand pathogens and their evolution.

Ötzi's ink

Frozen but not forgotten, exceptional images of the 5,300 year-old Iceman brought to light in a new project and book

Ötzi terrà impegnato ancora a lungo il mondo della ricerca

30 anni dal ritrovamento: bilanci e prospettive

The Iceman’s last meal contained a remarkably high fat content

Mummy researchers from Eurac Research have analysed the stomach contents of the glacier mummy and reveal new insights into nutrition and food preparation from 5,300 years ago.

Lifestyle is a threat to gut bacteria

Ötzi proves it