Interesting Facts

25th Anniversary Of Ötzi’s Finding

25 years have passed already since Ötzi – the glacier mummy – was discovered by chance in the Ötztal Alps. A perfect occasion for history lovers to look back on an eventful time full of sensations, findings and new insights.

Ötzi Fundstelle mit Erika Simon
Erika Simon at the finding place with Ötzi double © Alexander Maria Lohmann

September 1991:

A glacier mummy was found at Niederjochferner

Exactly 25 years ago, on 19 September 1991, the German couple Erika and Helmut Simon stumbled into the mummy amid the eternal glacier ice during one of their hiking tours to Niederjochferner in Ötztal.

Erika told us how it happened. Listen to the interview in German:

© pro.media

The mummy was freed with ski poles and pneumatic hammers as everyone thought it was a mountain accident victim.

We almost stumbled into the mummified corpse on our hiking tour.

Erika Simon

October 1991:

Ötzi’s new home: Bolzano, Italy

After precise surveying works the experts found out that the rock cave was already on the South Tyrolean territory.

Therefore Ötzi and all his accessories were transferred to Bolzano/Italy in 1998 where he can be admired in the South Tyrolean Archaeology Museum.

Blick auf die Gletschermumie Ötzi
Showcase window of the cooled chamber © Südtiroler Archäologiemuseum / Ochsenreiter

February 1992:

One of the world’s oldest mummies

Thanks to radiocarbon dating methods it was proved that Ötzi – The Iceman was covered by the eternal ice already for 5300 years: he is one of the oldest glacier mummies world-wide.

Finding A Name For The Glacier Mummy

Ötzi

As the place of discovery is amidst the Ötztal Alps, the mummified corpse was called “Ötzi” by the journalist Karl Wendl – this name went down into history.

The story of Ötzi’s name (in German):

© pro.media
Ötzi Findertreffen
From left: Reinhold Messner, Erika Simon and Karl Wendl © pro.media

Ötzi still is and will be the most important Tirolean because he gives an insight into both the past and the future.

Reinhold Messner

Hohler Stein
© Ötztal Tourismus / Bianca Klotz

1998:

Ötztal Valley – as well a Stone Age paradise

Prof. Dr. Walter Leitner proves that also varied other Stone Age hunting bases can be found in the Ötztal.

One of the most impressive spots is called “Hohler Stein” in Niedertal close to Vent at 2050 m altitude.  It’s location is at only 10 kilometers beeline from Ötzi’s finding place.

2000:

Opening of Ötzi Village in Umhausen

The unrivaled Ötzi Village is a huge archaeological outdoor park focusing on Ötzi’s everyday life. Housing and hunting tools are on display as well.

Ötzi auf Beerensuche im Ötzi Dorf
© Ötzi Dorf

Stone Age Life Close By

Laboruntersuchungen an Ötzi
© South Tyrolean Archaeology Museum / Eurac / Samadelli / Staschitz

2001:

Ötzi – most probably – was murdered

Forensic radiologists have discovered another important fact.

An arrow head was stuck in the left shoulder of the glacier mummy dating back to the Copper Age.

Therefore it is very likely that Ötzi was killed by an arrow shot.

2003:

His last meal

Researchers have detected that Ötzi had a meal shortly before he died.

The contents of his stomach were meat, fat and varied plant tissues – mostly fruit skins and seed coats of grain. Ötzi’s very last meal most probably consisted of Alpine ibex, bread and vegetables.

Finderin Erika Simon an der Ötzi Fundstelle
© Alexander Maria Lohmann

2012:

Ötzi’s health record

The Iceman had cardiovascular problems and suffered from parodontitis, borreliosis, gallstones, hardening of the arteries and worms in his stomach. And Ötzi was lactose-intolerant. That’s what forensic experts found out in the course of an extensive genetic analysis in 2012.

Ötzi 3 D
Ötzi double © Südtiroler Archäologiemuseum / Ochsenreiter

2012:

Ötzi’s look: sun-tanned, dark hair and a beard

Ötzi was about 45 years old, approximately 160 cm tall and weighed 50 kg. He had a beard and dark, curly, shoulder long hair.

The very first reconstruction of Ötzi was designed by the Dutch artists Adrie and Alfons, and exhibited in the South Tyrolean Archaeology Museum.

2015:

Ötzi was fond of tattoos

After extensive exams using light source technologies of different wavelength ranges, it was proved that Ötzi had countless tattoos and they are the oldest ones (found up to now) world-wide.

Ötzi had no less than 61 tattoos.

Untersuchungen an Ötzi
© Ötztal Tourismus / Marco Samadelli

2016:

Ötzi fresh from the printer

The renowned artist Gary Staab from the USA created a marvelous Ötzi double with his three-dimensional printer. Ötzi in 1:1 format will be part of a touring exhibition on “The Man from the Ice” through Canada and the US in 2017.

Fundstelle Ötzi
The place where Ötzi was found © Alexander Maria Lohmann

2017/18:

Ötzi on screen

A great movie about Ötzi is scheduled for the 2017/18 winter, Jürgen Vogel is among the actors.

Felix Randau directed and wrote the movie script about Ötzi – The Iceman.

There is still a lot of specialized research work to do. But we will never reveal all the secrets.

Dr. Walter Leitner

More Details

Must See

Hohler Stein Hunting Base

Leisure Time

Ötzi Village

Always Up-To-Date!

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Vanessa Gstrein

Author Vanessa Gstrein

… lives in the Ötztal Valley and knows a lot of insider tips. Whether on a hiking trip or ski day – the camera is always with her to capture the beautiful moments and share it with the community.

More posts by Vanessa Gstrein

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