
According to a study published Wednesday by the Max Planck Institute for Anthropology in Leipzig, Otzi, a prehistoric ice man, had darker skin than previously thought and probably progressive baldness.
The analysis of the genome of the most famous mummy in Europe, which is more than 5,000 years old, established, among other things, that its ancestors were from Anatolia, also clarified by the German institute, which conducted research in cooperation with Eura Mummy Research. Institute headquartered in Bolzano, Italy.
Being a mature man – the age at the time of his death was estimated at about 45 years – Otsi apparently no longer had long and thick hair, but very sparse. Its genes indicate a predisposition to baldness, which also explains “why almost no hair was found on the mummy,” explained study co-author Albert Zink of the Eurac Institute.
Also, researchers previously thought the mummy’s skin had darkened during its time in the ice, but it’s likely “mostly Father’s original skin color,” Zink said.
According to the study, the Iceman’s genome had already been deciphered in 2012, but researchers used advanced sequencing techniques to refine the analysis.
Compared to its European contemporaries, Otsi also has an unusually high genetic percentage from the first immigrant farmers from Anatolia. The researchers concluded that he came from a relatively isolated Alpine community that had little contact with other European communities.
“Straight from Anatolia”
Modern Europeans are largely descended from a mixture of genes from three groups: the first hunter-gatherers of Western Europe gradually merged with the first farmers who migrated from the Middle East about 8,000 years ago. Shepherds from the steppes of Eastern Europe joined the mix about 4,900 years ago.
The genetic features of this steppe population, found in the Otsi genetic heritage during the first analyses, were not confirmed by the new study. The sample used at the time was contaminated with modern DNA.
“We were very surprised to find no traces of herders from the Eastern European steppes in the new Otsi genome, and the proportion of hunter-gatherer genes is also very low,” said Max Planck researcher Johannes Krause and co-author of the study.
“From a genetic point of view, it seems that his ancestors came directly from Anatolia,” he added.
Otzi was discovered in 1991 in a glacier in the Italian Alps. The discovery caused a sensation, and since then researchers have been trying to recreate his life story with the help of the most modern technologies. He was a little over 1.60 meters tall, weighed about 50 kilograms and was killed by an arrow. His last meal before his death was probably the dried meat of the Alpine goat.
His body is kept in a cold chamber at the Archaeological Museum of South Tyrol in Bolzano and is a real tourist attraction for the small Alpine town. (Source: Agerpres / Photo: Dreamstime.com)
Source: Hot News

Ben is a respected technology journalist and author, known for his in-depth coverage of the latest developments and trends in the field. He works as a writer at 247 news reel, where he is a leading voice in the industry, known for his ability to explain complex technical concepts in an accessible way. He is a go-to source for those looking to stay informed about the latest developments in the world of technology.