Scientists isolate ancient yeast from the 5,300-year-old Iceman mummy

Oetzi the Iceman, a Copper Age man who lived around 3300 B.C., was discovered by German hikers on September 19, 1991, in a glacier on the border between Austria and Italy. The mummy has been preserved at temperatures around -6 degrees Celsius, providing unique insights into prehistoric life. Recent research conducted by Eurac Research, published in the journal Microbiome, involved a detailed analysis of the microbial community within his remains. Scientists identified various microbes, including four types of ancient yeast found in the mummy's gut. Lead researcher Mohamed Sarhan and his team successfully used these yeast strains to bake sourdough bread. Although Oetzi died after being struck by an arrow in the back, his well-preserved body continues to provide biological data. The researchers plan to collaborate with food science experts for future experiments involving these ancient microorganisms.