Scientists continue to investigate the body of Oetz, the approximate age of 5300 years, they found striking traces of red blood around the wounds that led to his death.
Traces of red cells preserved in time is therefore the oldest sample of blood in the world and a new chapter in case clarification of the oldest crimes in history.
Once Oetz’s body was discovered accidentally by some tourists, researchers were able to determine the physiological causes of his death, with the composition of last meal he ate before being killed by the arrow that pierced the back. During February this year, a team of researchers from the Institute for Mummies and EURAC the Iceman in Bolzano, Italy, published the full genome of Oetz.
According to a further study, wound behind Oetz contain hemoglobin, a protein found in blood, but which is believed can not resist not decompose for a period so long of time .
Professor Albert Zink, coondonatorul study, together with a team of scientists at the University of Darmstadt, were used by a device called an atomic force microscope, studying with the help of thin sections of tissue taken from the penetration of the arrow.
Device has a metal tip with only a few atoms thick, it was applied to the tissue and thus resulting three-dimensional image of an extraordinarily high resolution.
Confirmation samples of red blood cells was made using a special technology based on laser, known as Raman spectroscopy and the results confirmed the presence of hemoglobin and fibrin. “As fibrin is present in fresh wounds, after which degrades rapidly Oetz theory that he died a few days after being hit by the arrow is not currently supported.” Says Professor Zink.
Source: BBC News
