Ötzi the Iceman: Europe's Oldest Natural Mummy
5,300-year-old man found frozen in Alpine ice
The Amazing Discovery
01
September 1991
German tourists find body in ice
02
First thoughts
People think it's a recent climber
03
Scientific tests
Scientists discover he's very old
04
Amazing result
Body is 5,300 years old!
The Copper Age Man
Ötzi lived during the Copper Age, when people first started using metal tools.
He was about 45 years old when he died - quite old for that time!
What Did He Look Like?
160cm
Height
About 5 feet 3 inches tall
50kg
Weight
About 110 pounds
45
Age
Years old when he died
Scientists made this picture of how Ötzi looked when alive.
His Amazing Tattoos
61 Tattoos Total
Made with ash and soot
Pain Relief
Like ancient acupuncture
On His Body
Arms, legs, back, wrist
His tattoos were probably used to help with body pain - like medicine!
What He Ate
Last Meal
  • Wild goat meat
  • Red deer meat
  • Bread made from wheat
  • Berries and fruits
Scientists found his stomach was still full when he died.
His Clothes and Tools
Special Shoes
Made from bear skin and deer hide. Perfect for walking in snow!
Copper Axe
Very valuable tool made of pure copper with wooden handle
Bow and Arrows
Had 14 arrows but only 2 were finished and ready to use
Stone Knife
Sharp knife made from stone with wooden handle
How Did He Die?
Arrow Attack
Someone shot him with an arrow in his back
Lost Blood
The arrow cut important blood vessels
He Died
Ötzi died from bleeding too much
Scientists think someone attacked him during a fight.
What We Learned From Ötzi
Life 5,000 Years Ago
People had good clothes, tools, and food
Early Medicine
They used tattoos and plants as medicine
Ancient Violence
People sometimes fought and killed each other
DNA Secrets
His genes show where he came from
Ötzi Today
Visit Ötzi!
You can see Ötzi at the South Tyrol Museum in Bolzano, Italy.
He's kept in a special cold room to protect his body.

Scientists are still studying Ötzi and learning new things about life 5,000 years ago!
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