Otzi the Iceman Forensic Evidence Flashcards
Helmut and Erika Simon discovered the body of Otzi the Iceman while hiking in the Otzal Alps on the border of Italy and Austria, assuming it to be the body of a hiker.
Date: 19 September 1991
Shows: Human beings in the past travelled the Alpine terrain
Ethics: Irreverent removal of body using chisels and ice picks and touching the body, damaging the body
Owner of mountain resort, Markus Pirpamer, came to inspect the body
Date: 1991
Found:
- Large pointed stick stuck in ice nearby.
- Fur/hair under skin.
- Leathery skin with black marks.
- A bark container with wet grass.
- Metal blade with leather strapping.
- Small pieces of wood/hair/fur/cord.
L-FLAMS
Local police and forensic examiner, Dr Rainer Henn, used pneumatic chisels in their original attempt to recover the body from the ice.
Date: 1991
Found: N/A
Ethics: The side of Otzi’s body was damaged in the process, causing irreparable change to an over 5000 year old historical source.
Archaeological excavation: Ice picks, steam blowers, and hair dryers were used on the site. Water was collected in plastic pipes and carried away from the excavation site.
Date: 10 August 1992
Found: End of bow, grasses, mosses
Ethics: Irreverent treatment of burial site
Examination of intestine found pollen from hornbeam, which flowers between March and June
Date: 1998
Found: Otzi died in spring
Ethics: Invasive treatment to uncover the past
X-Ray found arrowhead in shoulder
Date: 2001
Found: Otzi was shot in the shoulder before he died. Humans used bows and arrows as hunting tools.
Ethics: Invasive treatment
Histological and biochemical evidence found that Iceman received a cut to the base of his right thumb that reached down to the bone
Date: 2003
Found: Wound consistent with a defensive wound, indicating Otzi died after a struggle
Ethics: Invasive treatment
DNA analysis of the intestines found cereals, uncleaned ibex meat in the intestines
Date: 2003
Found: Otzi ate cereal and ibex meat for breakfast up to 30 hours before he died
Ethics: Invasive treatment
Study of mitochondrial DNA conducted by Dr Franco Rollo from University of Camerino, Italy
Date: 2006
Found: Otzi was infertile. This may have led to his rejection by his peers.
Ethics: Invasive treatment
CT scan found clotted brain cells in brain tissue
Date: 2007
Found: Bruising to the brain. Indicates that Otzi suffered a blow to the head before death.
Ethics: Invasive treatment
CT scan found that arrowhead had penetrated left subclavian artery
Date: 2007
Found: Otzi bled to death due to damage to left subclavian artery
Ethics: Invasiv treatment
Stomach was discovered and found to contain ash and animal hair, einkorn grain, and forest berries
Date: 2011
Found:
- Iceman had eaten uncleaned ibex and forest berries less than 2 hours before his death.
- Einkorn grains indicated that he lived during a turning point in human history when humans were just beginning to cultivate wheat
Ethics: Invasive treatment
Endoscopy found clotting protein fibrin in blood
Date: 2012
Found: presence of fibrin shows Iceman did not die immediately after head injury but survived for a short while
CT scans of teeth found advanced periodontis of the rear molars, cavities, enamel wearing
Date: 2013
Found: dental care in Stone Age was inadequate to prevent dental health problems
CT scans found calcium build-up in the arteries indicative of atherosclorosis. DNA revealed genetic predisposition to cardiovascular disease
Date: 2014
Found: genetic causes of cardiovascular disease existed in the New Stone Age despite the active lifestyles of people then
