Further research following the discovery of the arrowhead established that the Iceman died after a violent encounter with his assailants, some of whose blood was found on his cloak and weapons.
It was believed that after the attack, Ötzi managed to flee up the mountain until he collapsed and died from blood loss, hunger, cold and weakness.
The discovery of the subclavian artery’s rupture draws a new scenario and backs a rival theory by Walter Leitner, an expert at the Institute for Ancient and Early History at the University of Innsbruck.
According to Leitner, a member of the team who studied the mummy when it was first transferred to the University of Innsbruck, Ötzi was assaulted not far from the Similaun Glacier where his mummified body was found.
"Indeed, with a wound like that he could have not taken another step," Egarter said.
He believes that the position of the mummy’s left arm is not a coincidence.
"He might have bent it in the effort to stop the hemorrhage or because of the acute pain," Egarter said.
