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What is so extraordinary about the Iceman?
Numerous artificially mummified corpses have been found throughout the world. In some past cultures it was customary to treat corpses to prevent them from decomposing.There are examples not only from Egypt but also from graves in Chile, Peru and Greenland.
Naturally mummified corpses have been uncovered from peat bogs, most of which originated from around the time of Christ.
The Iceman is one of the oldest mummies in the world. However, it is not only his historical age that makes him particularly valuable for scientists but also the way in which he was mummified. Ötzi is a so-called “wet mummy”, i.e. one in which humidity is retained in individual cells. The body tissue is elastic and suitable for performing detailed scientific investigations. Moreover, he is a natural mummy, unaltered by burial rites or other interventions. The Iceman with his complete clothing and equipment provides a snapshot of Stone Age life in Europe.
