New research reveals that Ötzi the iceman was bald and probably from a farming family – what else can DNA uncover?

By Caroline Smith, Assistant Head, School of Life Sciences, University of Westminster

In 1991, hikers came across a body that was partially contained in ice high up in the Alpine province of South Tyrol, Italy. Initially thought to be from a recent death, the body was later discovered to be 5,300 years old – from a time known as the Copper Age.

This amazing find would subsequently become known as Ötzi the Iceman. His body and belongings were extensively studied, prompting numerous questions: what was he doing here? Where was he…

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