We finally know what Ötzi the iceman was wearing when he died 5,300 years ago

Ötzi the iceman is a scientific celebrity, and we finally know what he was wearing when he died 5,300 years ago. Using complex DNA techniques, researchers identified the material in everything from his hat to his shoelaces and learned a little more about life in the Copper Age.

Hikers discovered Ötzi’s frozen body in the Alps in September 1991. The ice had preserved his body remarkably well, turning him into a natural mummy and making him a rich source of information about life in the Copper Age. He was found with a lot of clothing and accessories: hat, leggings, jacket, loincloth, and shoes, along with a grass cloak, quiver, and tools. Scientists extracted animal DNA from various items discovered on the body, which allowed them to...