Recent DNA tests on Ötzi the Iceman, a famous mummy found in the Alps, have given us some surprising news. Unlike old pictures, it turns out Ötzi had dark eyes, darker skin, and not much hair on his head.
Back in 1991, hikers stumbled upon Ötzi in the Italian Alps, and the find made headlines worldwide. The clues from his body told us he lived about 5,400 years ago and was killed by an arrow. Since 1998, his body has been at the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology for everyone to see and study.
This new DNA test is more detailed than the ones before. It shows that Ötzi’s skin when he was alive was probably close to the color it is now as a mummy. It seems many people in Europe back then had darker skin, maybe because of the weather and what they ate.
The test also cleared up some questions about where Ötzi’s family came from. He’s mostly related to farmers from a place called Anatolia, and he didn’t mix much with other groups. This new info changes some old ideas about his background.
Ötzi’s story keeps getting more interesting. From what he ate last to the fact he was right-handed and had a head injury, we’re learning a lot. This new DNA info helps us picture his life and the old world he lived in even better.
