Cold-Blooded Murder

　　This is a case even Sherlock Holmes1 might have found difficult to solve. In 1991, two hikers2 discovered a man"s body preserved3 in ice high in the mountains of Italy. Scientists determined that the frozen corpse4 was at least 5,300 years old. They even gave the “iceman” a cool nickname, “Otzi”, after the region where he was found.

　　At first, it looked as if Otzi had frozen to death in a snowstorm in the Alps. Researchers now believe the prehistoric iceman was murdered. The scientists say Otzi was shot in the back with an arrow and then died, possibly after fighting with his murderer or murderers.

　　How did scientists reach their conclusion? First, the scientists took DNA samples from the iceman. DNA is the substance that makes up the genes of living things. Then the scientists compared that DNA with traces of blood found on Otzi"s clothing and weapons. The tests revealed5 that the blood came from four other humans.

　　The results of previous tests showed a stone arrowhead buried in his left shoulder, indicating Otzi was the victim6 of foul7 play. Studies of Otzi"s hands, ribs8, and wrists revealed stab wounds and bruises9, which he might have suffered as he tried to fend off attackers. He was clutching10 a knife blade as he lay bleeding to death. “He was in a combat11 situation for between 24 to 48 hours before he died.” said scientist Tom Loy.

　　這可能是一例福爾摩斯也難偵破的案件。1991年，兩位徒步旅行者在意大利的高寒山區(qū)發(fā)現(xiàn)了一具冰封完好的男尸。科學(xué)家們斷定這具冷凍尸體至少歷時5300年，他們還以發(fā)現(xiàn)尸體的地名給這位“冰人”起了一個很酷的綽號“奧茲 ”。

　　初看起來奧茲似乎凍死于阿爾卑斯山的雪暴。研究者們現(xiàn)在確認(rèn)這位史前的冰人是被謀殺的?？茖W(xué)家們稱奧茲背后中箭身亡，可能死前還和對手(們)進(jìn)行過一番搏斗。

　　科學(xué)家們何以得出這個結(jié)論呢?首先科學(xué)家們從冰人身上提取了DNA樣本。DNA是組成生物基因的物質(zhì)。然后科學(xué)家們將它與奧茲衣物和武器血跡中的DNA進(jìn)行了對比。測試顯示血跡來自另外四個人。

　　先前的一系列測試結(jié)果顯示，他的左肩內(nèi)有一枚石質(zhì)箭頭，這表明奧茲是遭暗算被害。研究發(fā)現(xiàn)奧茲的手部、肋部和腕部有刺傷和瘀痕，這可能是他在極力抵擋襲擊者時造成的。死于血泊中的他還手持匕首。科學(xué)家湯姆·羅伊認(rèn)為“他死前24到48小時正身陷一場搏斗”。