The oldest blood cell on the Otzi ice mummy

According to experts, blood cells found on Otzi ice mummies are the oldest blood cells ever discovered.

How was the oldest blood cell found?

Otzi ice mummy is the name of a natural mummy preserved in cold snow dating back 5,300 years. This mummy was discovered in 1991 in the Alps, in the border of Austria and Italy.

Otzi ice mummy.

After the test, the researchers found that this Otzi mummy is a man about 45 years old and may have been killed by an arrow on his left shoulder. Experts also found up to 61 tattoos on Otzi , Otzi's body , infected with Lyme disease and gum disease.

Recently, experts have discovered more mysteries about blood cells that exist on Otzi's body . Accordingly, experts say, these red blood cells are the oldest ancient blood cells ever discovered.

When they first saw Otzi, the experts did not find any blood and assumed that the cell had disintegrated over time with the corpses.

Images of the Otzi gangster's red blood cells under a microscope.

However, when using X-ray technology and CT scans, they discovered blood residues in the wound on Otzi's right arm. Blood has gathered in the middle of the rib, left shoulder blade.

Continuing the study, the experts took biopsies from the stab in the right arm and the arrowhead, then created a 3D image and they successfully identified red blood cells Hemoglobin as well as the approximate size and shape of this cell.

With nanotechnology and atomic force microscopy, experts also helped detect traces of fibrin - a blood-clotting agent.

According to study author Albert Zink of the Mummy and Snowman Institute: "This is also evidence that the Otzi ice mummy has stopped breathing quickly after being injured".