Photo by John Morgan via Flickr.
The Curated Commute is a series where I pick interesting podcasts or other audio treats to accompany you on your commute. Hopefully they’ll entertain you and maybe even help you learn a little something while you’re en route…
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It’s been a while since I’ve shared a great podcast here, and I couldn’t wait to share this one with you! So without further delay…
Today’s podcast features an ancient murder victim. Scientists believe he is 5,300 years old. That’s 700 years before the construction of the pyramids in Giza.
They call him Ötzi.
He was discovered a little over 20 years ago by a couple of Germany hikers who headed slightly off-trail. They came across his perfectly preserved corpse buried in the ice, high up in the Alps.
Initially mistaking him for a modern man, authorities soon discovered that he was something much more interesting. “[A]fter decades of investigating, cutting-edge forensics have revealed not only a murder mystery, but a startling story about one man’s final days.”
An Ice-Cold Case from RadioLab [21:59 min]
It’s a fascinating tale about how modern science can illuminate a very, very old story and even our shared humanity. I particularly enjoyed hearing about the unique weather conditions at the spot in the Alps where Ötzi was found and how those conditions him to remain so perfectly preserved.
Enjoy!
P.S. – You can see a 3D scan and pictures of Ötzi, along with a ticket stub from the museum where he’s now housed.
