Ötzi - The Iceman

The archaeological sensation from South Tyrol: brief history & discovery site of Ötzi

Ötzi, also known as the “Man from Hauslabjoch,” the “Man from the Ice,” or the “Similaun Mummy,” is probably the most famous South Tyrolean, alongside Reinhold Messner. To this day, the inconspicuous mummy is considered one of the most sensational archaeological discoveries ever made, as it provides detailed insights into life during the Neolithic period.

Ötzi was discovered on September 19, 1991, at Tisenjoch Pass at an altitude of 3,200 meters by the German hikers Erika and Helmut Simon. An exceptionally hot summer had caused the glacier to retreat, revealing Ötzi, his clothing, tools, and weapons. Because Ötzi was found in the border region between the Austrian state of Tyrol and the Italian province of South Tyrol, both countries initially laid claim to the mummy once it became clear that the find was of extraordinary significance. Suddenly, both sides were so interested in Ötzi that the national border had to be re-surveyed specifically for this purpose. The survey carried out in October 1991 showed that Ötzi had been found 93 meters from the border on Italian territory.

What Makes Ötzi Unique

What makes Ötzi so special? Archaeological finds from the Stone Age are extremely rare, making it difficult to gain detailed insights into this period of human history. Ötzi’s remarkable state of preservation changed that fundamentally. Scientists were able to date his death to around 3200 BC. At the time of his death, he was probably in his mid-forties. Today, the mummy measures 1.58 metres in height. Since the body shrank during the freezing process, he must have been of impressive stature during his lifetime. Researchers have decoded his DNA, examined his diet (his last meal consisted of red deer, ibex, cereals, and bracken fern), determined his geographical origins through the analysis of his tooth enamel, studied and reconstructed his clothing, tested his weapons, and speculated about his apparently high social status. One reason for this assumption is the copper axe he carried—a possession of extraordinary value for that period. Ötzi bore more than fifty tattoos. Groups of charcoal lines adorn his body and are believed to have served a therapeutic or medicinal purpose. Not without reason, as his medical record was extensive: he suffered from broken ribs, blackened lungs (probably caused by smoke from campfires), arthritis, hardened arteries, and stomach ulcers. As if Ötzi were not mysterious enough already, X-ray examinations revealed another sensational discovery: an arrowhead lodged in his shoulder, which probably severed a major artery. Ötzi was the victim of a murder. Researchers believe that this fatal attack may have been preceded by another violent encounter several days earlier. Ötzi had a deep cut on his right hand, most likely sustained while defending himself.

Anyone wishing to learn more about the glacier mummy should visit the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology in Bolzano, where Ötzi and all of his possessions are displayed and presented using modern exhibition techniques. In Unser Frau in the Schnalstal Valley, the ArcheoParc open-air museum recreates the world in which Ötzi lived and offers fascinating insights into everyday life during the Copper Age.

The discovery site of the glacier mummy can also be reached on foot. However, this is a demanding high-alpine hike and should only be undertaken by experienced hikers with good physical fitness and mountain experience.