Ancient microbes found alive inside 5,300-year-old Ötzi the Iceman mummy

Ötzi the Iceman may have died more than 5,300 years ago, but some of the microbes living on and inside his body are still hanging on.

According to CNN, researchers studying the famous mummy discovered several species of cold-loving fungi and bacteria that survived thousands of years frozen in the Alps. Some may even be slowly multiplying in tiny pockets of moisture within the mummy.

The findings, published in the journal Microbiome, suggest ancient microbes can remain viable far longer than scientists once believed. Researchers said the organisms offer a rare glimpse into human health and gut bacteria from the Copper Age.

Ötzi, discovered in 1991 on the Austrian-Italian border, has become one of history’s most studied mummies. Scientists say his microbial ecosystem could unlock new clues about ancient life and preservation.