A team of scientists examined Ötzi the Iceman’s mummified body using multiple sampling techniques to distinguish microorganisms present during his lifetime from those that colonized the remains after death. The investigation involved analysis of ice from the mummy’s surface, internal meltwater, tissue swabs, intestinal material, and stomach contents, as well as a soil sample preserved since the mummy’s recovery in 1991.
Genetic analysis revealed that Ötzi’s original gut microbiome closely resembles the limited number of known microbial communities from early human populations. Many of these bacteria are rarely encountered in people living in modern industrialized societies, offering researchers a unique perspective into ancient human microbiology. The findings were published in the journal Microbiome and build upon previous research from 2019 that first documented these gut organisms.
The most unexpected discovery involved cold-adapted yeast species identified in skin samples, meltwater, and stomach contents. Genetic testing linked these organisms to strains found in extremely cold environments such as Antarctica, suggesting they originated in the glacier and have persisted alongside Ötzi for millennia. The researchers detected both heavily degraded ancient DNA and well-preserved modern DNA, indicating the yeasts remain active under current storage conditions of minus six degrees Celsius and high humidity, possibly in a dormant state.
Evidence suggests that conservation treatments applied after the mummy’s discovery may have inadvertently supported certain microorganisms. Three of the four yeast species possess genetic capabilities to metabolize phenol, a substance used to remove fungal growth from the mummy’s surface. The findings demonstrate that the mummy functions as a dynamic biological system rather than a static artifact, according to researchers at Eurac Research.
The South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology, which oversees preservation efforts, maintains stable conditions and conducts ongoing microbiological monitoring. Scientists indicate that cold-adapted microorganisms identified in the study could support industrial processes requiring lower temperatures and less energy consumption, such as fermentation. The research contributes to broader understanding of glacial mummy preservation mechanisms and may inform future conservation strategies.
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