BIBLIOGRAPHY

Concord Learning systems,”Otzi the Iceman”

<http://www.laughtergenealogy.com/bin/histprof/misc/iceman2.html>

(accessed on 10th March 2012 )

Softpedia,”How Otzi, the iceman die?”

<http://news.softpedia.com/newsPDF/How-Did-Oetzi-the-Iceman-Die-64232.pdf>

(accessed on 12th March 2012 )

Viewzone,”Otzi the iceman”

<http://www.viewzone.com/oetzi.html>

(accessed on 12th March 2012 )

Suedtirol,”Iceman”

<http://www.south-tirol.com/culture-nature/celebrities/oetzi>

(accessed 13th March 2012 )

Museum,”Otzi-the iceman”

<http://www.iceman.it/en/node/226>

(accessed 14 th March 2012 )

Serp,”Who owns the dead”

<http://wg.serpmedia.org/pdf_1A/WG1A_individual_units/full_color/WG1A_Part11.pdf>

(acessed 16th March )

THIS IS WHAT SCIENTIST BELIEVE THE ICEMAN TO LOOK LIKE BEFORE HIS DEATH

ISSUES RELATING TO THE CUSTODIANSHIP AND OWNERSHIP OF THE ICEMAN AND ETHICS INVOLVED IN DISPLAYING HIS HUMAN REMAINS

There are issues relating to the custodianship and ownership of the iceman. The question everyone has asked was , who exactly owns the iceman?

As the iceman was found between Italy and Austria, both countries have battled it out to see who owns the Iceman. Their bitter fight revolved around the custody of the Iceman, it was not until authorities had confirmed that the Iceman was indeed found in Italy that the battle was settled. This meant that the Italian republic could now claim the Iceman, exhibiting him in their museum for all to see whilst also gaining financially.

Many had still wondered of the Iceman’s descent and where he grew up and came from .Dr Wolfgang Mueller from the Australian national university in Canberra was able to shed light on the Iceman’s history. From studying the mineral composition of the Iceman’s dental enamel and one leg bone and comparing this analysis to isotopes Dr Mueller was able to gather information that the Iceman came from the Eisack Valley situated in the South part of Italy.

There are different views and perceptions on the ethics involved when displaying human remains, in this case the Iceman’s. There is much dispute about displaying human remains. Although ethically it is not right to be displaying human remains in a museum as breaches it beliefs and privacy.Some would argue that displaying the Iceman’s remains for all to see is extremely uncalled for as remains of the dead should not be for all eyes to see. However others would argue that by displaying and preserving the Iceman scientist are able to find out more about his life, knowing what he ate, the tools he made, how he lived and how he died. Humans remains of the Iceman can give the general public a greater idea of what he look like up close and personal as they are able to physically see the Iceman first hand through his museum.

1 ) Image of the place which the arrow head had hit the Iceman 2) x-ray showing where the shaft had punctured

ACCOUNT FOR THE CHANGING INTERPRETATIONS ABOUT THE ICEMANS CAUSE OF DEATH, FROM THE TIME OF HIS DISCOVERY TO THE PRESENT. REFER TO SPECIFIC ARGUMENTS AND REASONS FOR THE DIFFERENCES IN PERSPECTIVES OVER TIME

Although there are various suggestions as to how the iceman had died there is not any real evidence which showcases his exact cause of death

Back in 1994 Spindler had concluded that the Iceman was probably a shepherd who died from a storm.It was believed that the Iceman had died from being hit by an arrow head.Advances in technology through CT  scans and x-rays have revealed a 13mm long rip in the Iceman’s left subclavian artery lying just under his collar bone. There is evident blood which poured out into the surrounding tissue which formed a hermatoma which can is evident in the beast cavity. Dr Frank  Ruhli from the University of Zurich concluded that the arrowhead hit was deadly, it was clear that the Iceman would not have been living for long after the hit, as it was a quick death.

There are signs of clotted blood entering the hole where the arrow had hit him, indicating that the arrow had been broken off when the Iceman was still alive. There are many theories as to how the shaft from the Iceman’s back was removed many speculate the Iceman removed the shaft himself, whilst others say an ally could have helped him take it out. The final theory being the attacker and murderer of the Iceman removing the shaft to hide all evidence.

Despite the most known cause of death for the Iceman being hit deadly by an arrow head, there have been recent speculations to a new theory which attempts to explain how the Iceman really died. Due to new forensic data and CAT scans it is apparent that new findings have been revealed, it shows that the Iceman did in fact die of a head trauma instead of the arrow wound. After being hit by the arrow head , and loosing a huge amount of blood, he must have lost consciousness. Scientist believe that due to the cause of death being a head trauma, the Iceman could have died by hitting his head on a rock when he fell from being hit by the arrow head, or alternatively being inflicted with a bow to his head from the attacker.

There is also such theory that the iceman was killed by someone he knew,perhaps a member of his community who was envious of his skills. The copper axe the iceman had with him clearly showed that he was a man of great importance , who held with him great symbolic power. This definitely could have been a major factor which members of his community could have despised the iceman and thus wanting him dead. This theory is supported as through analysis of the stomach scientist were able to conclude that Otzi had a large meal before death, this is not at all a normal behavioral aspect for somebody on the run. It was also evident that Otzi’s killer whilst removing the arrow head, did not take the copper axe. This has caused great controversy as the killer must’ve known the value of that copper axe. It is clear that the killer had a thought out plan, as by not taking the copper axe the killer wanted to be precautions and remain unknown.

The new research and analysis has shed some light to some unanswered questions about how the Iceman really died.Over time the advances in technology has been accounted for new analysis taking place with the Iceman which had led to the differences in perspectives of the Iceman’s death. Whether the new research is correct or not is really not guaranteed.Of course everyone is entitled to their own personal opinion as to how the Iceman really died. The two theories proposed do in fact correlate as the hit from the arrow could have caused the blow to his head from falling, but it is difficult to isolate which theory is the right one. For now it still lies in some way a mystery.

1 ) IMAGE OF THE COPPER AXE 2)IMAGE OF SOME OF THE TATTOOS

SELECT TWO ITEMS FOUND WITH THE ICEMAN OR TO DO WITH HIS BODY AND EXPLAIN HOW THEY ENHANCE OUR KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE MAN AND THE TIMES IN WHICH HE LIVED

1 ) Copper Axe

The copper axe proved to be a significant finding as this proved the iceman to be of a stone age man. The copper axe measure to be around two feet long made from Yew wood with a copper axe head. The two pieces were binded together with Sinew and leather. Another interesting discovery was that Copper wasn’t available in the region as to where Otzi lived, meaning Otzi could have obtained the copper through trade. The copper axe was mainly used in order for hunting purposes and through the process of collecting wood. We are able to understand that the iceman was able to use such tools as the copper axe in order to hunt for his food to survive and wood for warmth and shelter.We can gather that in the times of which Otzi lived he was able to utilise tools for the essentials necessities basic for life not so different from today , however obviously back in Otzi time there were limited resources.

2 ) Tattoos found on the Iceman’s body

In total there were fifty seven tattoos found on the Iceman’s body. It is interesting as some of the tattoos were located on or near acupuncture spots. Scientist believe that the places where the tattoos are located resemble a form of acupuncture for the treatment of symptoms of diseases that the the Iceman seemed to suffer from. Some of the diseases included infestation of parasites throughout his intestines, whipworm infestation which was found in his colon and his lungs were very clogged which indicated signs of Osteoarthritis.  From this we can gather that Otzi the Iceman’s health was detrimental before the time of his death. He suffered from many diseases which would’ve affected him critically as he could not obtain the medical attention that today’s medical treatment offers. However through the vast tattoos we are able to obtain that there was some type of acupuncture treatment through tattoos. This indicates that the tattoos might’ve helped cure or treat some of the diseases Otzi the Iceman suffered from during that time.