Analyzing The Death Of Otzi The Iceman '

The Death of Ötzi the Iceman

Ötzi is the name for a mummy that was found in the European Alps in 1991 by a couple of hikers. When he was first discovered he had lots of injuries including cuts, broken bones, etc. He was originally thought to have been a hiker that had gotten lost and died, but it was later discovered that he was around 5,300 years old. He was found with many artifacts including clothes made of animal hide, shoes made of leather, grass, and plant fiber, an unfinished bow, several unfinished arrows, the remains of a backpack, a copper axe, and other similar items. This axe caused quite a stir because this axe supposedly was built thousands of years before the process of smelting copper was discovered in that area. All of this

The most mysterious debate surrounding this mummy is how he died. He was originally thought to have gotten lost and died in a storm, but in 2001 as stated in the Article Testimony from the Iceman by Bob Cullen Dr. Paul Gostner discovered an arrowhead which was originally thought to be a fragment of bone in Ötzi’s left shoulder. After examining the body they realized that it had cut a major artery and was the cause of his death. There are several theories hypothesizing why Ötzi was killed. In the movie Death of the Iceman it brings up several interesting theories including he was murdered, part of a ritual, and the theory that he was killed in a battle. However, a strong case can also be made for the theory that Ötzi got into a fight in his village, he fled up the mountain to attempt escape after getting in a disagreement in his village. This argument is supported by Ötzi’s location on the mountain, Ötzi’s autopsy of his

One of the injuries was a cut on his hand, This injury was a classic defense wound as stated in the movie Hunt for a Killer. This normally is caused when someone is attacked with a knife and the defender tries to stop the blade with his hand. Most of his injuries show signs of starting to heal like they had been made two or three days before he died. This supports the idea that he got into a scuffle and was forced to run away. There is evidence supporting that he was being chased due to types of pollen they found in his stomach during the autopsy. The pollens give evidence that he went part of the way up the mountain, came back down, and then went back up. This seems to point to the theory that he was on the run trying to throw off his attackers. The other items they found in Ötzis stomach were goat meat and cultivated wheat. The wheat probably came from his village. The reason it is assumed he didn’t farm it himself is other evidence throughout his body points to a profession of a hunter. A farmer would have had calloused hands. He did not. The large meal he ate along with how his possessions were laid out makes it safe to assume that he felt secure in his location and definitely didn't think he would be