Iceman Teacheth

▪ 1994

      On Sept. 19, 1991, two German hikers wandered off a trail on the Similaun Glacier in the Tyrolean Alps, near the border between Austria and Italy, and happened upon one of the most significant archaeological finds of the 20th century. Emerging from the ice was what at first appeared to be a discarded doll and then was assumed to be just another of the several relatively recent victims of the mountains that warm weather had been causing the glaciers to reveal that year. Even though it quickly became apparent that this body was much older, no one realized its importance, and for several days there was no attempt to protect it. Curiosity seekers gathered souvenirs of pieces of clothing or equipment, and haphazard attempts to free the body from the ice caused further damage and virtually destroyed the site's archaeological value.

      Forensics experts at the University of Innsbruck, Austria, finally took charge, however, and—realizing that the body had been naturally mummified, or dehydrated—instituted procedures that would most effectively preserve it. It was stored under simulated glacial conditions—relative humidity: 96-98%; temperature: -6° C (21.2° F)—and allowed out for study for no longer than 30 minutes at a time. Even under such strict conditions, however, much could be learned. Radiocarbon dating showed that the "Iceman" had been sealed in the glacier for 5,200-5,300 years (making the body nearly 2,000 years older that the mummy of Tutankhamen). He was 25-40 years old, was about 1.6 m (5 ft 2 in) tall, and weighed about 50 kg (110 lb); his teeth were well worn by the milled-grain products he ate. He probably died when he fell asleep in a small trench and froze. Cold winds mummified his body, and he was then covered by snow. Scientists were surprised to find that part of the body was decorated with tattoos of groups of parallel blue lines—it had been thought that tattooing began 2,500 years later—and that humans had begun cutting their hair longer ago than had been believed.

      The Iceman's clothing and equipment were also impressive. His fur robe had been carefully stitched; he had a woven grass cape to wear over the robe; and his leather shoes could be stuffed with grass for insulation. He carried two fungi on leather thongs—probably for medicinal purposes and maybe the world's first medicine kit—and a birchbark box containing food supplies. Among his other tools and equipment were a copper ax, a flint dagger with a wooden handle, a backpack with a wood frame, and a newly made and still unstrung bow made of yew. Most impressive, however, was his deerskin quiver, the oldest quiver ever found. In it were 12 unfinished shafts and 2 expertly finished arrows, the latter demonstrating that ballistic principles had been known and applied.

      Some 120 researchers in Europe and the U.S. were studying microscopic pieces of the body and equipment. As work continued, it was likely that the Iceman would go on revealing details of everyday life during a heretofore little-known period in human history. (BARBARA WHITNEY)

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