CT scan of Ötzi’s shoulder with arrowhead

As soon as Ötzi’s body was found, speculation began about how he died. But a clue to the cause of his death was only found ten years later. When doctors studied x-rays of Ötzi’s left shoulder, they noticed something remarkable and took a closer look.

What had appeared to be a small, white mark was actually a flint arrowhead! We don’t know who shot him, but one thing is certain: The arrow caused heavy bleeding and led to Ötzi’s death.

Ötzi wasn’t young when he died. Tests of his bones show that he was between 40 and 50 years old. Considering the harsh conditions of the Stone Age, Ötzi was pretty old when he died.