Surely you remember the finding of Ötzi, the man of the ice. His remains were found in the Alps, in September 1991, by two German mountaineers. The body was more than 5,250 years old, was mummified and preserved by the cold, and offered unprecedented data of the men who lived in the Copper Age in Europe. Among all the studies that have been made of this incredible mummy , are those of the drawings of his skin. Discover what the tattoos of Ötzi, the ice man, have revealed.
Due to global warming, they are being carried out surprising findings of remains that have remained for centuries or simply decades under the ice. In Switzerland several bodies of deceased have been discovered in the mountains during the First and Second World War and in France the remains of a couple who disappeared in 1942, leaving their children alone. One of the fears of scientists is that the disappearance of permafrost free viruses and bacteria from ancient diseases that have remained asleep under the ice.
The tattoos of Ötzi, the man of the ice
Ötzi is the name given to the mummy of a 46-year-old man who died in 3255 a.C. The Ötzi tattoos They confirm that the man of the ice lived in a society with health care techniques that surprise by their advanced development. Scientists believe that the marks on his skin, possibly made with a bone and carbon needle, were made for therapeutic purposes. European scientists have studied those tattoos and the herbs and medicines that he carried in his pouch, to have a clearer picture of the society to which Ötzi belonged and his medical practices.
The Ötzi tattoos , whose body revealed that he suffered from various diseases such as osteoarthritis or stomach discomfort, usually consist of small parallel lines or crosses and are located at acupuncture points. In total, 61 tattoos have been counted and because of the place where they are, it was ruled out that they had no ritual function. Many of them are located in areas of the body that perform work that require more effort such as the ankles, knees, wrists or lower back and coincide with the places where traditional Chinese medicine would place their acupuncture needles .
Although these tattoos did not produce real effects of healing, they do indicate that the society in which Ötzi lived was concerned with the health of its members and was inquisitive in seeking remedies for their ills. The herbs and instruments he carried in his bag also indicate a knowledge of the plants for therapeutic purposes.
The global warming that accelerates the melting of the glaciers will surely lead us to new archaeological discoveries in frozen areas of the world. Had you heard about the ice man? Did you know the meaning of Ötzi tattoos ? If you want to know other amazing recent scientific discoveries, we invite you to read the post: 6 impressive scientific findings of recent years .
Image: Thilo Parg