Tats Cool: Iceman's Awesome Ink Is Soot-Based

When a pair of German tourists stumbled across the remains in 1991, it was first believed that what they found were the ice-preserved modern remains of someone who had recently perished in the harsh alpine climate. It was soon determined, however, that the remains were actually more than 5,000 years old, and Otzi the Iceman continues to surprise us.

Otzi was found to have numerous tattoos, primarily simple patterns of lines and dots, on his back and legs. With the aid of electron microscopy, scientists have learned that these markings were made not with ink, but with soot.

Electron microscope analysis of the Otzi's ink revealed the presence of fine particulate matter, and subsequent chemical analysis indicated that the carbon-rich matter was from soot.

And the purpose for the markings may not have been to attract really hot ice babes. Because analysis of the remains has allowed determination that Otzi was arthritic, due to the placement of these markings on the body, scientists are presently exploring the hypothesis that these tattoos served a medicinal rather than a decorative function.

The surviving bits of leather clothing Otzi was found to have been wearing have not, as yet, been determined to be the remnants of a badass proto-biker jacket.

Photo courtesy of Matt Borowick via Wikimedia Commons.