Ötzi the Iceman: 5,300-Year-Old Murder Mystery Discovered in the Alps

Ötzi the Iceman: 5,300-Year-Old Murder Mystery Discovered in the Alps

On September 19, 1991, a German couple, Erika Simon and Helmut Simon, were hiking in the Ötztal Valley in the Austrian Alps when they discovered what they believed was the body of a recently deceased mountain climber.

But the body was far older than they imagined. It had been preserved in ice for more than 5,300 years. The man became known as Ötzi the Iceman, named after the valley where he was found.

Around his body, researchers discovered remarkably well-preserved belongings: a bow and arrows, a copper axe, a flint knife in a woven sheath, two wooden containers holding maple leaves, parts of a backpack, a leather pouch with small tools, fur and leather clothing, sturdy shoes, and other small objects. These items provided rare insight into Copper Age life in Europe.

Further examination revealed that Ötzi had an arrowhead lodged in his left shoulder, along with other injuries. Based on this evidence, researchers believe he likely died violently—possibly murdered—making his story not just an archaeological discovery, but also one of the oldest known unsolved homicide cases in human history.

Source: Brainy Educator