[SunkenCiv]

In Oetzi’s case, the overall study showed that his death happened quickly. Regarding the red cells:

[snip] The band intensities, however, were approximately an order of magnitude weaker than those of recent RBCs. This fact points to a decrease in the RBC-specific metalloprotein haemoglobin and, thus, to a degradation of the cells. Together, the results show the preservation of RBCs in the 5000 year old mummy tissue and give the first insights into their degradation. [/snip]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/3288165/posts?page=2#2

[nathanbedford]

Oetzi went on ice only about a 2 hour drive from my home here in Bavaria and I have followed the case in the popular press since the discovery. There was an especially interesting article speculating that he was pursued to his death for some sort of crime.

I found the artifacts discovered with him to be fascinating but I am not clear about why I need to know they had red blood cells or why I need to know that he probably died quickly. The artifacts, the condition of his body etc. tell us about the nature of the trans Alpine commerce of the time as well as the progress of civilization.

[Ditter]

It said he took an arrow to the back but died of a head injury. Do you suppose the arrow was still in his back? Otherwise how would they know about the arrow?

[wildbill]

Only seven days before this article, another article said:

‘Iceman Oetzi’ lived for a while after arrow wound
http://phys.org/news/2012-05-iceman-oetzi-arrow-wound.html#nRlv

My theory is that he took cover from his Italian pursuers(he was fleeing back home over the pass to Switzerland from a raid) He was bleeding out from the arrow wound in his back, but they found him and finished him off with a blow to the head.

“Taka that, you woman stealing Switzer!”

He had obviously pissed off some lowland dudes pretty bad for them to chase him that far up the mountain.