Otzi – The Ice Man of the AlpsEssential Question: Who was Otzi and how can primary

sources prove how he died?

All Photos Taken From: http://www.age-of-the-sage.org/archaeology/otzi_the_iceman.html

Background Information

• September 19, 1991 two hikers in the Alps

• Border of Austria and Italy

• Wander off of the traditional path….

Background Information• Saw a small head and shoulders sticking

out of the ice

• At first they think it is a doll

• But…they see a small hole in the back of the head – so they know it is human

Background InformationPolice Get Involved

• They report the body to the Italian police

• Italian police think it’s a recent death.

• Start jackhammering the ice around the body to free it. This destroys much of the clothing on the iceman.

• Other people try freeing it with poles and axes; causing more damage to the clothing.

Background Information

• Dr. Henn is flown in ~ inspects the body

• The skin is dry & yellow ~ like a mummy. It’s been preserved in the ice.

• Glaciers in the Alps melt & reveal the body

• Shipped to museum to be studied

Background InformationAlong Comes the Archaeologist• Body named Otzi (UTT-zee) because he

died near a valley named Otzal/Ytei.

• Dr. Spindler arrived to examine Otzi

• Determines the body was 4,000 years old

• The oldest mummy ever found!

Physical Appearance

• Age ~ 45 (very old for people of that time)

• Height ~ 5’2”• Although short, very

strong• Brown curly hair ~

Recently got a haircut.

echostains.files.wordpress.com/.../mann_v1.jpg

Physical Appearance

• Tattoos on body ~ ankle, lower back, kneecap ~ not for decoration.

• Teeth ~ showed wear ~ ate grains/breads

• Last Meal: wheat bread, green herbs or veggies, and meat were found in his colon.

Clothes found

• Leather pants

• Jacket (animal hides)

• Cape (braided grass)

• Fur cap

• Soft shoes stuffed with hay for warmth

• Small white disk (necklace?)

Body PositionThe position of the body: He was laying on his stomach with his arm bent across his neck.

What He Carried With Him?

Pay attention to different objects – were they used for work, offense, defense?

• Snacks? Illness?

Pictures at the Scene

An item that looked like a fat pencil with a tip made from a deer antler. Used for working flint.

Pictures at the Scene

Fungi threaded onto a leather strip. Used as medicine.

Pictures at the Scene

Flint dagger inside of a woven scabbard.

Pictures at the Scene

Needle made from bone.

Grass string.

Pictures at the Scene

One wooden backpack frame.

Pictures at the Scene

One axe with a copper blade.

Pictures at the Scene

Arrows (Some were found broken at the scene)

Pictures at the Scene

Leather Tassel with a marble bead.

Stone Disk

The Scene

How Did Otzi Die?

• The question that haunts archeologists…• Use your skills to come up with reasons

that support one of the theories…– Robbery– Died in Battle– Assassination– Ritual Sacrifice

What you need to accomplish for this assessment:• You will need to personally decide how you think Otzi died. • You will pick 3 primary sources to back up your conclusion. • You will write up your three pieces of “proof” in the following format:• Each proof needs… • 1. An answer statement, which includes a mention of a primary source that

is being used for evidence.• 2. A detailed description of the primary source• 3 – 4. Explanation of how/why this would then prove the selected cause of

death • *Your final write-up can be turned in on the sheet provided by your World

History teacher or you can type up your final pieces of proof (preferred) • Example of a final proof:• Cause of Death for Otzi: hypothermia. • One primary source that proves Otzi died of hypothermia is the position of

Otzi’s body. Otzi was found with his head resting on his arm like he fell asleep. Otzi could have been hiking through the treacherous terrain of the Alps, gotten sleepy, and laid down to rest. His lack of his movement while sleeping, compounded with the icy temperatures, could have caused Otzi to freeze to death.