Archaeologists believe that they have worked out how Otzi the iceman died: an arrow wound to his shoulder caused him to bleed to death. Despite several scientific tests since he was found in the Italian Alps in 1991, archaeologists had previously been unable to agree whether he died from an arrow wound, a sudden fall or freezing while climbing the high mountains.
Frank Ruehli, of the University of Zurich was able to construct a three-dimensional image of Otzi using high-resolution computer tomography. He found that an arrow had torn a hole in an artery beneath Otzi's left collarbone, leading to massive loss of blood and shock and causing him to suffer a heart attack. His analysis is published online in the Journal of Archaeological Science. Dr Ruehli said the arrow being pulled out before death might have also contributed to the injury. A large haematoma could also be seen in the surrounding tissue, and the iceman probably died shortly after the lesion was caused.
Archaeologists believe Otzi may have been a hunter or warrior killed in a skirmish with a rival tribe. Previous research showed he had killed at least four other people in his final battle. An analysis of traces of blood found on his clothes and weapons, carried out by Australian biologists, revealed four different types of DNA, none of them Otzi's.
