H. pylori bacteria from the gut of Ötzi the “Iceman” indicates that early European farmers had intimate contact with Asians before migrating to Europe

On the day that Ötzi the “Iceman” was murdered in the Tyrolean Alps of Italy about 5300 years ago, he had a full stomach—and a tummy bug. But it wasn’t just any gut microbe—this early farmer was infected with a particular ancient strain of Helicobacter pylori bacteria that is most similar to modern Asian strains.

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