Of
Jacob Wetzel
The discovery of the body on September 19, 1991 was a stroke of luck for science. That day, two mountaineers discovered a frozen, naturally mummified dead man on the Tisenjoch in the Ötztal Alps; today the man is known worldwide as “Iceman”, “Frozen Fritz” or “Ötzi”. It was soon said that he was unique. After all, he has lain unchanged and shielded from the outside world in the ice for around 5,300 years, along with clothing and tools, an unfinished bow, a quiver with 14 arrows and a copper ax, all well preserved as in a time capsule. Since then, hardly any archaeological find has been described as extensively as the “Iceman” and his belongings. But now, more than 30 years later, it is clear: the idea of a time capsule is not correct. And there are many question marks behind the stories about Ötzi.