The World's Coldest Cold Case

A 5,300-year-old mummy discovered in the Alps was so perfectly preserved that he's become famous, and has been endlessly studied. We call him Ötzi after the place he was found. Scientists have examined every inch of Ötzi, including his clothing, and even the pollen caught in the fabric. They studied the remains for his medical history and the reason his body was so well preserved. But how did he die? It could have been the cold, or any number of physical maladies catching up with him, but it wasn't old age. Years of forensic examination have determined that Ötzi was murdered. And further study is bringing us clues as to how that happened. Catch up with what we know about Ötzi's death with this animated TED-Ed lesson.