Ötzi was able to benefit from a sophisticated health care system

New research suggests that the community in which the famous Ice Man lived, whose frozen remains were found in an Alpine glacier, may have boasted surprisingly advanced medical techniques. Scientists suggest that basic medical treatment and care were present when Ötzi lived.

In 1991, German hikers found in the Alps at an altitude of more than 3,000 metersoin the body. They initially thought it belonged to a tragically deceased tourist. However, over time, the remains were found to be more than 5,000 years old and surprisingly well preserved by the glacier, in ktorym were found. The discovery caused a sensation on a global scale, and the man, to whom theorego belonged remains were named Ötzi or Ice Man.

The mummified body examined on the rotzi’s different ways. Since its discovery, a number of morphological, radiological and molecular analyses have been performed, ktore revealed a detailedoA glimpse into his health status. It was found that Ötzi had about 160 centimeteroin height and weighed about 50 kilogramsow. At the time of his death, he was about 40-53 years old and suffered from many ailments. Conditions in whichorych died – stabbed with an arrow – allowed to preserve most of its tissues and organoin internal. The research revealed roalso someore particularos of the lives of people from the time of theoin the Ice Man.

The research, whichore appeared in the „International Journal of Paleopathology” indicate that people living at the time Ötzi used advanced medical techniques. Syndromeol scientistow has come to these conclusionsow after analyzing the tattoos on the Ice Man’s body and the plants found near his body. Scientists suggest that similar medical practices may have been common at the time and Ötzi belonged to a community with an advanced health care system.

On the body Ötzi found 61 tattoos. In earlier studies, researchers had already hypothesized that the lines tattooed on his skinorze were not just ornaments, but were intended to have therapeutic benefits. Why such a conclusion? The location of the tattoos, including points and dots tattooed wokol pondow, fit according to someoscienow to an early form of acupuncture, making it more likely that the community Ötzi knew this method about 2,000 years before it was thought to have appeared in Asia.

Tattoos, whichore created through small incisions then filled with charcoal, they match the "hard-working areaoin the human body", including ankles, wristsow, knees and lower backow. The study found that the Ice Man suffered from degenerative joint changesow. Many of the tattooed dots correspond to traditional acupuncture points and are found not only near the jointow, but also on the chest, an area usually associated with acupuncture points attacking intestinal disorders.

At its skoThe thrown strap was found roalso the white birch hub, whichora could have been used to relieve inflammation, as an antibiotic or in stomach ailments. Such are its healing properties that we now know from research and folk medicine accounts, although huba may have been rownie well used for lighting fires. On the other hand, researchers have determined that the Ötzi had a hair-triggerowka – parasitic species of nematodes causing bole of the abdomen, which may support the thesis of the fungus’ medicinal use. In his stomach were found roAlso a certain species of fern, whichory can also be used to treat parasiticoin the intestinal. Traces of bandage were also found on his bodyow of marsh moss.

Researchers indicate that this sophisticated medical practice, along with roThe diversity of the ziol and medicines, had to be developed by prob and erroneousoin and was passed on from generation to generation in a community in which theorej veins Ötzi. tattoos at acupuncture points, regardless of the effectiveness of this therapy, also had to be developed using the same method.

„Along with finding medically effective fungicidesow and plants in his equipment and intestines, suggesting that medical care and treatment were already common when the Ice Man lived” – wrote the researchers in the publication. They also indicate that Ötzi was part of the culture, whichore in some part knew the anatomy, the nature of someorych diseasesob and ways to treat them.

Sourceobackground: Science, photo. South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology/EURAC/Samadelli/Staschitz