[The man in the ice under special consideration of paleo-pathological evidence]

Dealing with archaeological findings, the physical condition of the 5000-year-old Man in the Ice will be discussed. Several research projects with autoscopical, radiological, computertomographical and laparoscopical methods present an overview of the state of health of the Tyrolean Iceman. The vascular network at the lower brain shows a slight hardening of the arteries. On the right side of the thorax the sixth and seventh ribs are fractured without callus formation. On the left side serial rib fractures can be seen which had healed well. The twelfth ribs are absent on both sides. The Iceman was suffering from arthrosis of the right hip of medium severity. Osteolysis of the little toe is indicative of frostbite. Some ecto- and endoparasites were found (Pulex irritans, Trichuris trichiura). The Iceman has a number of skin markings on various places. The location of these tattoos matches the X-ray findings of discrete to medium arthrotic changes in the corresponding joints. It seems reasonable to assume that the markings were applied for a therapeutic reason. The combination of thickening of the arteries, arthrosis of the joints, the healed fractures and frostbite lesions illustrates the hard life to be endured by the Man in the Ice and by Late Stone Age man in general.