Added November 5, 2008. Updated December 6, 2008, 07:41 -5 hours GMT.
This page will be updated occasionally
to add and revise information.
The
Iceman’s DNA
Version 0.02
By
Maximilian O. Baldia
(Copyright © 2008- December 6,
2008. All rights reserved)
Introduction
The purpose of this text is to
provide a general overview of the culture and is intended as a resource for
students and teachers of European Archaeology.
List of Figures
The Iceman (Ötzi) from a glacier in the Ötztal Mountains of the Tyrolean Alps has undergone genetic testing. The mitochondrial DNA sequence is the oldest one derived from modern humans, according to a report published online on October 30, 2008 in Current Biology (a Cell Press publication). The results indicate that the over 5000 year old male seems to have no living relatives in Europe. If this result meets the test of time, it could imply that the traditional focus of European archaeologists, which is to look for cultural origins based on sets of artifact classification and tie the result to ethnic groups and their movements, may have to be reevaluated.
References and Credits
Genova, Cathleen
2008 Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press
release, 02
Nov 2008 - 3:00 PST. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/127631.php.
Related Links
Baldia, M. O.
2001 The Iceman’s Food Fight. The Comparative Archaeology WEB.
---- The
Central and North European Neolithic/Copper Age Chronology. The Comparative Archaeology WEB.
---- Neolithic/Copper
Age Link Index: Links to
News Bulletins, Articles, Site Reports, Databases, etc. about the
Neolithic/Copper Age in Europe. The
Comparative Archaeology WEB.
Please send comments or questions to Max Baldia.