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In a recent advancement in the study of ancient genetics, a research team has employed sophisticated sequencing technology to analyze the genome of the Tyrolean Iceman also known as “Ötzi,” providing a clearer understanding of the Iceman's appearance and genetic heritage. His remains were discovered in 1991 in the Italian section of the Ötztal Alps and have been directly dated to the period between 3350 and 3120 calibrated BCE.
Traditionally, it is understood that the genetic composition of modern Europeans primarily stems from the integration of three ancestral groups: western hunter-gatherers, early farmers from Anatolia who migrated around 8,000 years ago, and Steppe Herders from Eastern Europe, who arrived about 4,900 years ago.
Initial analysis of Ötzi’s genome indicated the presence of genetic elements from these Steppe Herders. However, refined results challenge this conclusion. The discrepancy arises from contamination of the original sample with modern DNA. Since that first study, sequencing technologies have significantly improved, and genomes of numerous prehistoric Europeans, often extracted from skeletal remains, have been fully decoded.
This progress allowed for a comparative analysis of Ötzi's genetic code with that of his contemporaries. A striking outcome of this comparison is that Ötzi’s genome shares more ancestral ties with early Anatolian farmers than with any of his European contemporaries.
Ancestry and Physical Appearance of Ötzi
The investigators deduce that Ötzi originated from a relatively secluded population with minimal interaction with other European groups. “We were very surprised to find no traces of Eastern European Steppe Herders in the most recent analysis of the Iceman genome; the proportion of hunter-gatherer genes in Ötzi’s genome is also very low. Genetically, his ancestors seem to have arrived directly from Anatolia without mixing with hunter-gatherer groups,” says Johannes Krause, Head of the Department of Archaeogenetics at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, and a co-author of the study.
New findings from this study also offer fresh perspectives on Ötzi's appearance. Although initially identified as having a Mediterranean-European skin type, the latest analysis suggests his skin was darker than
previously assumed. “It's the darkest skin tone that has been recorded in contemporary European individuals,” notes anthropologist Albert Zink, study co-author and leader of the Eurac Research Institute for Mummy Studies in Bolzano. “It was previously thought that the mummy's skin had darkened during its preservation in the ice, but presumably what we see now is actually largely Ötzi's original skin color. Knowing this, of course, is also important for the proper conservation of the mummy.”
The previous depiction of Ötzi is also being revised concerning his hair. As a mature man, it is now believed that Ötzi likely had little remaining hair, contrasting with earlier depictions of him having long, thick hair. Genetic markers indicate a predisposition to baldness, aligning with Zink’s observation that “this is a relatively clear result and could also explain why almost no hair was found on the mummy.” Additionally, Ötzi's genome exhibits genes associated with an increased risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes, but these likely had no effect due to his active lifestyle.
This reevaluation of Ötzi, made possible by state-of-the-art genetic technology, is more than an academic exercise; it paints a vivid and humanizing portrait of a man who lived over 5,000 years ago, reminding us of the deep roots and complex journeys of our ancestors.
Traditionally, it is understood that the genetic composition of modern Europeans primarily stems from the integration of three ancestral groups: western hunter-gatherers, early farmers from Anatolia who migrated around 8,000 years ago, and Steppe Herders from Eastern Europe, who arrived about 4,900 years ago.
Initial analysis of Ötzi’s genome indicated the presence of genetic elements from these Steppe Herders. However, refined results challenge this conclusion. The discrepancy arises from contamination of the original sample with modern DNA. Since that first study, sequencing technologies have significantly improved, and genomes of numerous prehistoric Europeans, often extracted from skeletal remains, have been fully decoded.
This progress allowed for a comparative analysis of Ötzi's genetic code with that of his contemporaries. A striking outcome of this comparison is that Ötzi’s genome shares more ancestral ties with early Anatolian farmers than with any of his European contemporaries.
Ancestry and Physical Appearance of Ötzi
The investigators deduce that Ötzi originated from a relatively secluded population with minimal interaction with other European groups. “We were very surprised to find no traces of Eastern European Steppe Herders in the most recent analysis of the Iceman genome; the proportion of hunter-gatherer genes in Ötzi’s genome is also very low. Genetically, his ancestors seem to have arrived directly from Anatolia without mixing with hunter-gatherer groups,” says Johannes Krause, Head of the Department of Archaeogenetics at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, and a co-author of the study.
New findings from this study also offer fresh perspectives on Ötzi's appearance. Although initially identified as having a Mediterranean-European skin type, the latest analysis suggests his skin was darker than
previously assumed. “It's the darkest skin tone that has been recorded in contemporary European individuals,” notes anthropologist Albert Zink, study co-author and leader of the Eurac Research Institute for Mummy Studies in Bolzano. “It was previously thought that the mummy's skin had darkened during its preservation in the ice, but presumably what we see now is actually largely Ötzi's original skin color. Knowing this, of course, is also important for the proper conservation of the mummy.”
The previous depiction of Ötzi is also being revised concerning his hair. As a mature man, it is now believed that Ötzi likely had little remaining hair, contrasting with earlier depictions of him having long, thick hair. Genetic markers indicate a predisposition to baldness, aligning with Zink’s observation that “this is a relatively clear result and could also explain why almost no hair was found on the mummy.” Additionally, Ötzi's genome exhibits genes associated with an increased risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes, but these likely had no effect due to his active lifestyle.
This reevaluation of Ötzi, made possible by state-of-the-art genetic technology, is more than an academic exercise; it paints a vivid and humanizing portrait of a man who lived over 5,000 years ago, reminding us of the deep roots and complex journeys of our ancestors.