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The world’s favorite Neolithic murder mystery has taken a dark turn.
New analysis of the body of Ã?tzi the Iceman, found in 1991 in an Italian Alp crevasse where he’d fallen 5000 years ago, shows that he was attacked at least twice in the days preceding his death.
At first, Ã?tzi was believed to have died peacefully. Then researchers found an arrowhead in his shoulder, bruises on his head and chest, and a deep cut on his hand.
Doctors have now determined the chronology of the attacks: the cause of death is almost certainly the arrow wound, which caused internal bleeding â?? but while blood around the entry wound is fresh, the cut is at least several days older.
This suggests two separate attacks over a period of days, said study leader Andreas Nerlich, a Ludwig Maximilian University pathologist.
It was a rough ending for Ã?tzi â?? but at least he died in style, wearing shoes, a loincloth, belt and grass-woven cloak.
