Study finds ancient Iceman wore hat made of bear skin

BERLIN – Scientists say Oetzi the Iceman wore clothes made of brown bear pelt and roe deer when he died in the Alps 5,300 years ago.

Researchers in Italy used genetic analysis to determine that the two materials were used for Oetzi’s fur hat and his leather quiver respectively.

Niall O’Sullivan, a researcher at the European Academy of Bolzano, Italy, said the study published Thursday in the journal Scientific Reports also showed that other pieces of Oetzi’s clothing came from domesticated animals.

The mix of materials suggests the Iceman was adept at using material from domesticated sheep, cattle and goat as well as wild animals to fashion clothes.

Oetzi’s mummified body has been studied extensively since it was discovered on a glacier near the Italian-Austrian border in 1991.

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