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Scientists Made Sourdough Bread With Yeast Found on Ötzi the Iceman’s Mummified Body
Key takeaways
- The scientists got permission to defrost the mummified remains.
- Now, researchers say they have successfully made sourdough bread using yeast found on Ötzi’s body.
- “We want to pursue this further and involve specialized research teams from the food sector in the process,” Mohamed Sarhan, a microbiologist with the Institute for Mummy Studies at Eurac Research, says in a statement.
The scientists got permission to defrost the mummified remains. South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology / Eurac Research / Marion Lafogler In 1991, hikers exploring the Tyrolean Alps between Italy and Austria discovered the mummified remains of a 5,300-year-old man. Since then, scientists have learned a lot about the mummy, nicknamed “Ötzi the Iceman,” including that he was going bald, had numerous tattoos and was infected with a cancer-causing strain of HPV.
Now, researchers say they have successfully made sourdough bread using yeast found on Ötzi’s body. Up next, they hope to try making beer.
“We want to pursue this further and involve specialized research teams from the food sector in the process,” Mohamed Sarhan, a microbiologist with the Institute for Mummy Studies at Eurac Research, says in a statement.