What fascinates me about this story is that for years I had heard that early people simply did not go up into the mountains, that they feared them. Here we have at least two people, maybe more, high in the mountains. The copper ax that Otzi carried was very valuable at this time. He had a significant social position somewhere. Whether his presence was commercial, political or religious, he had a purpose, he wasn’t a Flintstones caricature. It just reinforces the idea that these people were not so different from us.
I totally agree. I do not like the disneyfied view we have of our ancestors either. If we believe that Ötzi and his people were less intelligent and sophisticated than us, we will never understand our past. And its a dangerous way of thinking, as we might believe that our own species is immortal.
@Robert Gotschall: I agree with your conclusion, but will go further: I am not aware of any scientific evidence (leaving aside the long discredited and racially biased pseudo-science of 'phrenology') that indicates our ancestors were intellectually inferior to us. Aborigines, who travelled to and flourished in Australia for at least 40,000 years before western colonisation, brought with them a developed stone age technology not that different from Otzi's although without the ability to smelt metal. They nevertheless carried fire with them along their epic nomadic journeys and conducted controlled burns as part of a deliberate management of their landscape. They navigated the vast deserts for thousands of generations by passing down memorised songs which identified waterholes, animal migration routes and star patterns. Even today, they can survive and thrive in the sun-blasted interior of the continent where we immigrant invaders would perish. R (Australia)
I agree with this but here we are a little better than the others yet we say he was found with a copper ax and we're assuming its value and the social position it would have gave for all we know it was found or treated or every person had a copper tool at that point in time for all we know we have to get rid of every simple assumption like that or we are doing the same thing
Orzo was chased for his good looks, a real “cave-ladies” kinda guy but there was no back door to escape the cavemen angry over Otzi’s lustful habits and the indiscretions of their floozy mates. Yep “Him no good” was the probable sentiment among Otzi’s pursuers.
Over 5,300 yrs ago an approx 45 yr old hunter/ gatherer/ man, carrying 60 lbs of equip/survival needs , at 10,000 feet of elevation, and in saying these things, literally carrying just less than half his body weight...such an amazing individual that as mitochondrial DNA has shown, has left his bloodline into the world in current day Europe. Now this is truly incredible.
His Y chromosome G-L91 is not a common haplogroup in that area. My own R U-152 seems to have originated around there in ancient times. Perhaps, my tribe were the ones to hunt him down.
@@abrahamdozer6273 His Mtdna is K1f, K1 the upstream clade along with his Y G-L91 likely originally coming from the Anatolian (Early European Famers) Neolithic migration into Europe some 8,000 years ago. His maternal Haplogroup seems no longer extant in modern Italy or any other European populations. His G2a Y-Dna lineage is still present at rates of close to 10% on average in Mediterranean Europe his closes autosomal relatives today are Sardinians.
Holy shit, 60 lbs up in the mountains without the benefit of modern ergonomic packs and waist/shoulder straps. I ruck around just for fitness with 60lbs and without a goodpack id fall over and drop everything
I personally think otzi pulled the arrow or broke it off himself as he ran away. Just seems like the attacker would have pick his axe up with it being so valuable.
Had a full stomach, including bacon. Likely ambushed by hostiles who located him by the smoke of his cook fire and he successfully defended himself, killing at least two of the hostiles, and climbed to the highest height possible to escape other attackers where he eventually collapsed from blood loss and died. The fact that he cooked bacon almost immediately before he was involved in a brutally violent struggle strongly suggests it was highly unlikely that Otzi had wronged anyone in the immediate circumstances leading up to the attack. The motive of the ambushers could have been random or he could have wronged them in the past or they could have felt he was trespassing in some way. There are alot of possibilities for the motive but he was likely ambushed.
Yes, red deer and goat meat was his last meal. Eaten only a few hours before his demise, if researchers are right. So yes possibly he ate at a lower elevation, was ambushed and shot and went higher up the mountain. Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts!
@@campsitesweden That he only had 2 stone-tipped arrows left, seems to indicate that he had fired some arrows that he could not or did not retrieve. That seems like an important clue to me.
Who was Otzi? Otzi was a man of high status. The axe and his gear prove that. Probably he made this axe by himself, they found asenic in his hair and his longs. The point of the arrow pierced a major blood vein. He must have bled to death within 5 minutes. The shaft of this arrowhead has not been found, it is suspected that it was removed and taken by someone. He couldn't have done that himself, the arrow was in his back. I think a sacrifice is out of the question. You don`t sacrifice an important person by shooting an arrow in his back.
I also believe that a sacrafice is out of question. Adding to that conclusion is that he was found at an altitude of 3200 asl. No one carries a man that high for a rutual of sacrifice. 🔥🌲 thanks for watching and have a happy new year!
This is a fascinating window into our distant past. My view is that there was a dispute somewhere down near the lake, that there was a conflict and that Otzi fled into the mountains. It is normal human reflex to flee upwards, and maybe he knew that there was a valley to the north where he could escape his pursuers. The arrow was shot and the shaft fell out. In Africa it is usual to make arrows to lose the shaft, I am not sure if the ancient Europeans did this too. Perhaps he lived longer than a few minutes after the arrow hit him, perhaps his pursuers had a few moments to ransack the body? Perhaps the weather prevented them to take his valuable tools, or perhaps he did suffer from hypothermia in his last moments? Thank you for your analysis.
You mention his hands had cuts or some lacerations in them. These may be defense wounds due to an opponent who wielded an edged weapon. In any case he apparently was in a close fight, known as close combat. If DNA examination shows his weapons had blood from more than one other person he apparently won some of the fight.
I wonder if Otzi was part of a raiding party. He carried with him bindings for securing animals and/or people. As a member of the important raiding party, he was well fed, well equipped, and well cared for with the best medicine available at the time. His equipment weighed so much because he needed it to carry out a raid and planned on carrying it one way, with a soon to be captured person carrying the equipment back to Otzi's village or tribe. However, his raiding party encountered a group who fought back, resulting in Otzi and at least one other (whom he carried) being injured. Regardless, it's interesting to see the level of sophistication for people who lived over 3,000 years ago and day-dream about what life was really like.
I went to a guest lecture tonight at my university hosted by dr. Patrick hunt, and the circumstances of otzi are crazy. Also apparently his shoes were suitable for the terrain. They were actually made of bear skin with the fur facing inside (so skin side out) meaning the skin provided water proofing while the fur provided insulation. Pretty advanced for the time! They were also theorized to have been made by an artisan craftsman as the craftsmanship of the shoes is far superior than his other pieces of clothes. The metal in his copper ax is also theorized to have been derived from ore originating from the Tuscany area. So these ppl were definitely far more advanced at the time then we thought!
I'm wondering why they didn't take his possessions. I'm no expert on this time period, but it seems like that copper axe would have been a valuable asset. The idea that he was sacrificed is very plausible, considering he didn't have the necessary foot ware for trekking up the mountains.
I thought they also found blood on his tattered clothes someone elses blood they said he may have carried someone at some point. Did they kill him to get other guy, he seemed to have all his belongings of value? So why? His axe was worth a considerable amout for his time.
Well it seems unlikely he was shot in the back in the location he was found at. If he was shot at that spot by a rival tribe or group then surely they would have taken his valuable possessions, so, if so, then he might have escaped from the rivals and died later. Perhaps the only other logical explanation is he was murdered by someone from his own group in that location who did not take his possession's because....1 killing him sufficed their feeling of revenge or 2. They could not use his possessions because it would have exposed them within the common group. But because he had several wounds and the blood of several other people on his clothes that seems unlikely to me. All in all I tend towards believing he was escaping from a fight either from within his own group or a rival one and made it all the way up there before expiring.
That's my theory too. Still, why climb that high? Maybe he was on his way from either of the valleys. He made it up wounded, was exhausted from the climb and perished.
I’d like to think he was on a scouting mission to check out a rival village. That’s way he was attacked and chased back to his area, but the chasers didn’t catch up to him to steal his bronze axe or other belongings.
Interesting idea! Yeah maybe he was on his way having been shot in a rival village on the other side of the valley. Nevertheless i think the spirit abandoned hon as he saw the long way ahead of him down the other valley.
The area where he was found in the alps was a hunting area, and lots of his people lived in the surroundings. Would be nice to know from where he was. There are some evidence pointing to different places not so far from where he was found.
Very enjoyable presentation of this story. It is like setting around the campfire telling stories of ancient times. It seems that being wounded as he was, he must have been targeted for killing. Whether that was in a battle or a simple homicide no one will ever know. It would be interesting for a team of pathologists to debate the reason for his death. Was it solely due to his wound because of blood loss, or was it the exposure to the elements, or a combination? The blood remains on his clothing and on his hatchet, were these of human blood, or animal? If human, were they from the same person? It seems like a close analysis would paint an interesting picture of this man's death over 5000 years ago.
People always assume that the axe was valuable, but if he made it himself, as the evidence in his hair indicates, them maybe most people could do the same, and the axes were common. It may have just been a tool and not a status symbol or a signifier of rank. It looks like simply a tool , and has no adornment.
I like this guy!! But I don't think " otzi " was sacrifice we need more investigation, the problem is the cold whether , For 3 years I been learning about " otzi " and I am still amazed , I'm Hispanic but I'm into ancient cultures like , celts , vikings, American Indians, indo European languages , Neolithic period, Cooper period , Egyptians, Phoenician, incas, all about history makes a boom 💥 in my brain 🧠 and I like it , maybe I go to study , anthropology, zoology, history and all that shit , because I'm feeding on its!!!! Jejeje respect to everyone and everybody !! But we need to now about "otzi " death , it's about 5,500 years ago sooner or later we will be able to find the true and let him rest in peace 🙏 🕊 😇😇😇 God bless you" ice man "
This is the first time I’d heard his shoes weren’t suitable for alpine trekking. It seems more likely that he was fleeing if his shoes weren’t suitable. He might have been fighting down near the lake, took out a couple of enemies, got wounded in the process and then fled to the heights where the elements finished him off. This would also fit in with the fact his belongings were with his body, including his highly valuable axe.
I have a theory he was a soldier. It would make sense the "supplies" from all over(a trading network).The copper ax(sign of great wealth and respect so he was a leader) the other dna found on his grass cloak (carrying his compatriots off the battlefield)the arrow shafts for making arrows .The best clothing available at the time etc..Just because we don't have records of a standing military at the time should not make a difference before this discovery we didn't have records of copper being smelted at this time either.
@@robertwilliams450 Military back then didn't necessarily have the same moral views that we have today as far as nobody left behind, dead or alive. Perhaps the custom then could've been to leave the dead where the fell.... where they fought so valiantly. Just a thought.
Theory #4: Ötzis neighbors saw him skinny dipping at the lake with his best friend's wife. When the best friend returned home from a hunting trip, he learned what Ötzis had done, and he chased Ötzis up into the mountains and shot him in the back. Although Ötzis met his fate over 5000 years ago, he was certainly not the first man shot by a jealous husband.
Why not take a generator up there and melt the ice 10x10 m and see what else could be found. Maybe he was escaping pursuers, didn't know that part of the mountains, loss of blood led to fainting and then death. He has a story to tell us but it's upto to us to find out.
I don't think the person who shot him retrieved his arrow, I think otzi pulled or broke it off. Seems like the attacker would have taken his other stuff, unless they were in a big hurry and needed the arrow to make another shot quickly but even then I think he would have grabbed the axe. The arrow could have broke when it struck him and the shaft was pulled/fell off as he ran. I just dont know about the sacrifice theory, it doesn't seem like they would shoot him in the back.
The sacrifice theory isnt my no 1 etiher. Another theory is that the ice moved his body during the 5300 years, scattering things around, breaking the arrow and so on. Its a great mystery and, as seen in this comment section, something that triggers our mind! :) /Jonas
Ötzi's shoes were very good for trekking in the mountains. Where did you get that they weren't? I've only ever read of reconstructions that were very good. He had his copper axe with him, which was probably very valuable. All of his gear must have been worth quite a bit back then. If someone just murdered him, the killer would have taken that stuff with him. At least the axe. I have also never heard anything about human blood found on Ötzi's arrows. I am skeptical about your info.
Otzi people were wagging war with my eroupean people...he had 2 bloody arrows he retrieved so he probably killed 2 of my people...he got what was coming
I think it’s very interesting that he was shot in the back, but that the arrow were part of the arrow was removed. It wouldn’t be a really easy matter to remove an arrow from your own back, particularly for a man whose joints are larger and less flexible than females would be. So the question there is, how many reasons are there to remove The projectile from a decedents back if you’re not providing first aid? He had first aid supplies with him, but they weren’t used on him as far as we can tell. (There is evidence that he has had them used on him in the past, but not for this injury, if I have correctly understood. ) The one explanation that comes to mind most immediately is that in a time when such things would’ve been made by hand, it’s quite possible that the arrow that caused the injury could’ve identified its maker and shooter.Does this not suggest fowl play? Bronze Age tools were very valuable, and his were high-quality. But they were left with him. Because a murderer never wants to be seen with his victim’s possessions, particularly something that’s of high status that would be readily noticed. That would be a quick way to get found out. It would be really and truly fascinating To test his DNA, to find out what we can learn there. I wonder if Ancestry would be willing to compare his DNA with what’s in their data banks. Wouldn’t it be something to find A remnant of his living family group? There are things that his dental and bone composition could possibly tell us about where he grew up and lived. That might provide a little bit more information about him again, and possibly even where he came from to be on a journey into the mountains like that. About his footwear: those of us who have hiked up in those mountains have undoubtedly all experienced that the weather on those mountains can have very little to do with the weather in the lower surrounding regions. While he was found frozen into a glacier, One cannot help but wonder if he left appropriately attired for the weather, with no intention whatsoever of ending up where he did. The fact that there was human blood on his arrows, but he retrieved them says that he may have thought he need them again. I’ve heard it said that the arrows are incomplete however.Were they damaged in battle or just never finished? There’s so many questions
Excellent analysis! I think DNA tests has been done. According to pollen analysis we can conclude he was a native to the region, his birthplace not too far away. Regarding his clothes: no I dont think he was dressed for the weather and as you say - weather at this altitude can shift rapidly. For any neolithic person severe weather on this altitude probably meant death. During his escape, maybe a storm got him. At this altitude, as you seem to know, even a few degrees above zero (celcius) but combined with severe wind and hail/rain can be deadly. Thanks for sharing! /Jonas
It looks like an ambush, in the mountains, between one group of individuals and another group of individuals. In the heat of battle Otzi slipped into the rocks and dying soon afterwards. It is also possible his enemy was standing over him and dealt him a final blow to his head. As the battle was still in progress his enemy had to leave Otzi body to help in the on-going battle and it ended with Otzi body and artifacts lost and forgotten in the maze of rocks.
Ambush could be an explanation. Still, its a bit puzzling that a battle was taking olace that high up in the mountains; 3200 meters asl. Having hiked in the mountains I know that is a big struggle to even get that high. But for sure, it could have been a route between two villages or something like that. Thanks for watching 😊🔥
watching from the philippines. thank you for making a vlog.. so many years have passed i just read this in time msgazine and national gwographic fascinated by it
I wonder if Otzi was an unknown soldier of sorts in some sort of tribal feud. Maybe the two sides in the conflict were both trying to achieve the tactical advantage of holding the higher ground while there was a heavy snow storm about to begin.
I don't think it was a robbery. He was probably killed by people who knew who he was. They left his belongings with him. The axe in particular must have been a precious object. People must have known that the axe belonged to Otzi. If others had brought that axe with them, they would be asked how they got that axe. They shot him, took the arrowshaft with them, a proof who would have done it, and run away. Typical people who shoot somebody in the back.
The hypothermia theory of removing the clothing seems very likely. Yes he obviously had wounds and one was severe. Was he ambushed? Possibly but his gear was not taken so that’s not likely to have happened. Maybe he was wounded while escaping from someone he attempted to steal from? Got an arrow in the back for his attempted crime? They figured he’d never survive the trek up and along the heights and let him go. Or maybe he was pursued and they lost him in a snow squall and he subsequently ended up where he was found.
This could have been a common way to get from one Valley or Village to the other. What if Otzi was the thief? He might have been followd after he stole and left a nearby Village. Maybe, while stealing the things found with him, he got caught at thier camp. Then was attacked by one or 2 people and possibly killed one, severly hurting another. After the savage fight, was running away badly ingured from the fight. Then, still hurt and bleeding, one of them shot him as he ran away in the back. He went far as he could, then died from the injuries. They all might have died, killing each other. Just another Theory LOL
Thank you, I have also been thinking about such a theory. I guess he was injured on a lower elevation, managed to reach the high altitude before perishing. Maybe he realized after his climb, looking into the enourmous valley ahead of him he would not make it. He lost hope, the weather turned bad or something like that. 🌲🔥
I think he was shot, and went up to escape, eventually freezing to death, alone. Someone would have taken the ax if they saw it. What would that ax sell for at auction?
In every documentary we see kind of sympathy for Ötzi. Maybe he was a bad person, did bad things and his persecutors were persistent in getting a rightful vengeance? For example, a dethroned chief, who was a tyrant?
A question, missed points, and possible theory. Did they find different human blood on the arrows and knife? You didn't mention the very large amount of goat meat in the stomach with a single pine needle. Maybe he ate it so quickly that the pine needle was eaten too. Maybe he wasn't offered meat was discovered, then ran for his life. Hard to imagine his killer won't go through his gear, maybe the copper ax was so rare they didn't think he would have such a thing. They probably thought he was just a common traveler who stole some meat, he was aggressive to them after he ate their meat (Otzi hid the ax that was worth many goats, not three hand fulls of meat. Not having anything else of value he had to keeps his ax a secret or loss it). The goat herders had to make a point, chased him, shoot him, he died near a known tribe mountain border, dragged him into a snow crevasse to hide his death after cutting his palms (a common punishment for theft), then cut off Otzi's 'man parts'...maybe to avenge a death from earlier in the day.
Interesting theory! Yes as far as I know they found DNA from other people on his knife. However, not being an expert, my opinion is that it is very hard to determine after such a long time if this DNA came from a struggle or simply was left from some other activity. Nevertheless, stay safe mate /Jonas
Are all swiss people experienced mountaineers or do they get trained Why is there arsenic in hair? Are arrows tipped? or from soil? Copper is suggested to be from elsewhere. Did the arrow pierce a major vessel what is the evidence? What is the blood grouping phenotypical of people of that time?
As far as I know, and that is not very much about Ötzi but anyway enough to make a guess, the cupper was from elsewhere and his blood indicated that he was from a village further sway than in the absolute vicinity. The arsenik could be from metalworking. Maybe he was a smith or smelter.
Maybe he was part of tribe that was coexisting being assimilated by another and had a daughter and wealth and as long as he was alive he would be an obstacle of social climbing he was said to have tattoo marking for acupuncture points for relief of chronic pain that only comes from well standing in a group.
Good points! For sure he could have been a chieftain or similar in his society. And the tattoos are interesting, I have not looked into that but would be i teresting! 👍🔥
No doubt there are more frozen bodies in the Alps. Perhaps not many. But when I watched that aerial view of all that frozen terrain... there's gotta be more archaeological treasure there... To me, the main question is was he warring with people from the 'other side of the mountain' or was he involved in a feud with a member or members of his own clan... I'd guess the latter. It seems that usually the killer is someone you knew. Maybe that was the case even 5,000+ years ago... My best guess would be that Otzi made at least part of his living as a hunter, became involved in a dispute with another hunter over hunting turf/territory, and was perhaps chased up to the high elevation where he was murdered by that other hunter - by a fatal arrow shot to the back. I'd give everything I have to go back in time and be able to observe life in Otzi's day...
Perhaps. But maybe the copper are was a common item? Remember that this is in the late neolithic and copper items was fairly common. But it was valuable for sure, but not in any way a unique item.
Have you gotten up to speed on the latest discoveries of otzi yet??? 4 people's blood on him his knife and arrow heads... Arrow in his back and head trauma to the front of his skull...???
I want to toss out the lost hiker ditches his clothes and shoes. Sure that happens today with us domesticated humans, Otzi was of a higher caliber he live would not have had that fear we modern humans suffer with. he lived in that environment, he made tools from scratch and everything else. We get testy when the internet goes down and loose cell service, we are mear infants in comparison and fear and panic sets in easily. Its been suggested he may have just had a bad fall and impaled himself with his arrow, Its a great mystery!
For sure Otzi was well adapted to his environment and a lot more prepared than us. But he was also a human and thereby vulnerable to the elements. What puzzles me the most after looking to the case is the altitude he was found. Perhaps he was trying to cross to the other valley over the mountain ridge. He was exhausted when he finally reached the ridge. The weather turned bad. He realized the distance down to the valley below - his hopes faded. He was injured. A combination of bad things.
Looks like the last day kadhafi...I think he stole the footwear and a band of mad cobblers killed him for shoplifting...Are gloves really just hand shoes?
The only way to compare this is to stories of recent natives who told their stories that are similar and that we know of the ending. People traveled for many reasons, from hunting, trading , raiding, visiting other groups of their scattered clan, evading a war or attack on ones village, herding animals to another location. Or just going to sell or buy some copper ore up north. You had enemy tribes, keep in mind these people were wild, I mean wild, they could cover hundreds of miles running and can eat and medicate on the run. Could’ve been a robbery and most his copper was stolen; but he managed to run a little bit after they stole his ore, and he fell in a icy crevice- the I ice thickness depending on the time of the year then. He had eaten within an hour or two before death, those people could run fast ,even with heavy gear, in two hours he could have ran anywhere from 10 to 20 miles in a survival mode up the hill , hanging on to his belongings for survival (hunting, eating, tools, warmth) it seems that he had injested some medicinal herbs, maybe he had time to make some tea or grind some herbs and eat them to stop the bleeding. Which means he cleared his pursuers but bled slowly, maybe he didn’t bleed, but had an ancient style poisoned arrow that slowly took him out , at which he consumed medicinal herbs , blood thinners of ancient times. Anywhere from a robbery to a revenge intertribal warfare, could have been taking live stock up north and gotten robbed, and most of his tribe taken w the livestock and him left behind. Could’ve ran away with a lover whom was some priest’s daughter and the clan chased him up the hill. He also ate a type of fern which is known to be toxic, for all we know he was eating w a group of people who he started fighting after he realized they put a toxic herb in his beer , beat them up and ran while one of them shot a final arrow … then they went back to the village saying “forget that guy… “
Many interesting thoughts! The Hill you mention is very very high, as he was found on a ridge 3000 meters in altitude. He was not in his best years, he had illnesses and the trecking up there would for sure have taken a toll on him. Ötzi was not in a healthy physical state, which was common during this time. I believe he was exhausted by the climb, and injured by the arrow as he finally came up there and bad weather got him. /Jonas
Thats one theory that has been put forward, there is also a small stone pile close by him that could be interpreted as a grave. However, given the altitude he was found at I believe that is less probably explanation. Carrying someone so high up in altitude is a struggle, and there probably are equally suitable grave sites below that altitude. But we dont know, so we cannot rule that out. Thanks for sharing that /Jonas
I think he was shot by a rival or jealous younger hunter. He probably followed the wounded Otzi man until he no longer could run anymore. He dropped his backpack and turned around with knife and axe in his hands. He probably fought himself to death as there were cuts on his hands. He was an old man and the hunter was young, fast and ferocious. As for his clothes that were scattered: the ice, wind and snow shifted, ripped and moved his clothes over long time.
@@campsitesweden thanks but there is another possible story- the arrow that was embedded, no one noticed for 5 years until cat scan revealed. A hole on his back wasn’t noticeable, it is possible it was an old wound from the last battle. It is possible he survived all those years until old age caught up with him, like exhaustion and fatigue from extreme cold that lead him to his death.
The Italians and Austrians fought a vicious mountain war along that border for four years and I'm surprised that an ancient find like this survived the destruction. It may limit future finds in the area, somewhat as that border would have been pretty chewed up. It's right on the dividing line between continental Europe and the Mediterranean world and a whole lot of history must have happened there.
Thats true. More finds will for sure show up as time passes. I guess there are relatively few people hiking off the trails so many finds are lost to weather and wind. 🌲🔥
@@jmmck2361 It was fought between 1915-18 along the border between Austria-Hungary and Italy that runs through the Tyrolean Alps ((Otzi was found right on that very border).and it was spectacularly viscous. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_front_(World_War_I)#:~:text=The%20Italian%20front%20or%20Alpine,course%20of%20World%20War%20I. Ernest Hemingway's novel :"A Farewell to Arms" was set there based on his own experiences as an ambulance driver on that front.
No mystery. Otzi did not die where we found him. He was buried there. This is a ceremonial burial of a respected chief. That explains everything. It explains the pollen samples, the goods found with the body, the location, everything.
Its a tempting explanation, I agree! Also a small pile of rocks was found nearby him as you know that could be interpreted as a grave, but that is not proven. The cons I have with that explanation is the altitude. Taking a body that high up in altitude from the valley really must be a struggle even for a number of people. Its a climb of around 1-2 km in elevation. A struggle to say the least, but not impossible. There should be plenty of similar sites at a lower altitude that would have suited such a burial equally good without such an effort. But of course, the ridge is the highest point, maybe closest to the gods. Its puzzling. The other thing is the arrow. Maybe he died from it and his tribespeople carried him up there for a ceremonial burying. Thank you for sharing that! /Jonas
According to the book, he died in the valley and remained there for millennia, but when the ice melted he floated to the top of he mountain where he was re-frozen.
@@campsitesweden Yes, the book indicated that he died in the valley and froze in the ice, then millennia later the ice melted and his body floated up to the place on the mountain and then the water refroze around him.
He would definately be surprised that he is such a famous guy 5300 years later. I bet he could not have imagined that even in his wildest dreams :). /Jonas
@@campsitesweden we would die by hunger if this happened but i want every historical figure and monarch to come back to life but some of them will kill everyone.
Considering the angle of the arrow he had to be kneeling when shot. Bodies left at the top of a glacier would be slowly ground to dust mountain people would have known this. All his things where left. The spot is surrounded by a grouping of mountain peaks that could easily have been spiritual important. In a church not far away in Italy built on the site of a much older organ temple is a rock showing a kneeling man with archer aiming down at him with most of the thing he was found with laying next to him. His wounds and bruises look to be a couple of days old. All points to sacrifice.
Oh really, Im so glad to hear that you watched this in school! I hope you got something out from the video even with my inferior speaking skills 😊 thanks for the feedback 🌲👍
Funny, the only theory not proposed for his death, is that he may have stolen that copper axe.. that the three people's blood on him were his pursuers.. who had to break off their chase of him to take back either their dead or wounded...This would explain his lack of finished arrows.. And one arrow that wasn't made by him.. he may have picked up in a running battle. one of the pursuers, got a lucky arrow into his shoulder... They broke off their pursuit because the axe wasn't worth the lives of the wounded. Now they've found out that he had been around smelting of copper.. because of Arsenic in this hair and lungs.. from smelting.. Yet he had no smelting tools on him. Maybe he was an apprentice, and saw a chance to break away from his tribe.. to seek his fortune elsewhere from what He'd learned.. This scenario makes better sense to me.. but then again.. I'm not trying to make him a hero... to gain money from tourists... and the brighter the story the more tourists.. Hey.. Human nature and reality are part of my life.. I'm an artist.. and my theory is just as valid as the experts.
Hi David, yes I totally agree with you. Ötzi could just have been an average neolithic man. We do not know much for sure about him. As someone wrote, he is the Holy Grail of glacial archeology, and such finds tend to produce a story that is more romantic than reality. Anyway, its an amazing find and a rare glimps into this time period. I guess all our opinions on what happened to him are equally valid as the experts. Thank you for your thoughts /Jonas
@@campsitesweden I'd love to see a movie made.. about him.. but then it would solidify a, maybe, false theory... It is amazing to just think of the World History that happened .. while he lay there.. Helen of Troy, the Pyramids, Stonehenge, Moses, the 300, and so much more, recorded history..
I have made a very similar device for fly swatting, mosquitos, bees etc. Use a light whipping action to easily smack any area of your body with little effort and extreme efficiency. It works so well I’m surprised it wasn’t obvious. Yep bugs were a pain way back then too.
It was a ritual murder, hence why his valuable axe was left with him, there was a stelae found from the same time period depicting a similar valley a man with an arrow in the back and with the same axe depicted.
Thank you for sharing. Personally I dont think that a ritual sacrifice is the explanation due to the altitude. Its too high up in the mountains, on the ridge, for conducting the effort of carrying a person up there. He could have climbed himself, sure, but still it seems a little off to me. But we never know, thats why this story is so fascinating. Thank you for joining me in this video :) /Jonas
