Out of ordinary: Ötzi’s curse?
Ötzi's curse? Tests run on Ötzi the iceman, the world's oldest and best-preserved mummy, show signs of decomposition. X-rays show grey spots on one knee, indicating gas formation caused by bacteria. The South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology in Bolzano, Italy, where the 5300-year-old mummy is housed in a refrigerated igloo, is also concerned about dehydration; the mummy is vaporized with iced sterilized water every 2-3 months. Seven persons who had been in contact with Ötzi have died prematurely: a molecular archaeologist who discovered human blood on Ötzi‘s weapons and clothing, the forensic pathologist who dug Ötzi out of the snow, the mountain guide who led the initial party to Ötzi, the journalist who was the first to film the mummy, the hiker who found Ötzi¨in the first place, the head of the team that found the hiker's body, and the head of the Ötzi Investigation Team at the University of Innsbruck. Strange coincidence or curse? Take your pick!