Ancient Yeast from Ötzi the Iceman’s Corpse Revives 5,300-Year-Old Sourdough Mystery!
A previous study found that Ötzi’s last meal consisted of ibex, deer, and an ancient wheat called einkorn. Like today’s non-Westernized cultures, he ate more fiber and whole grains than people in industrialized civilizations. Knowing what Copper Age humans consumed tells scientists how prehistoric people fueled themselves and provides insight into how our diets have changed over time.
Together, researchers say, these discoveries reveal that Ötzi the Iceman “is not a biologically ‘frozen’ time-capsule but rather a complex ecosystem.”
After reading about the yeast found in the body of Ötzi the Iceman, learn the stories of nine of history’s most chilling mummies. Then, discover how Ötzi the Iceman helped researchers learn new information about HPV.














