BACKGROUND Around 5,000 years ago, in the year 3,200 B.C.E., a man died in the Alps Mountain Range near the border of Austria and Italy. His identity is unknown. For now, we will call him Otzi. His body was discovered in 1991 by two German tourists. The lower half of his body was found covered and buried by ice.

THE CASE You are now officially hired as ancient history detectives. Your job is to view and read the following facts of this unsolved case

THE FACTS Otzi was about 5’5” tall 110 lbs 45 years old Because the body was covered in ice soon after death, the body was only partially decayed Pollen found in Otzi’s stomach show that he died during the Spring

THE FACTS II Otzi travelled often among the hilly landscape Otzi had whipworm, an intestinal parasite 3-4 of his ribs had been cracked He was lying facedown after death Otzi was lactose intolerant

THE CRIME SCENE

FACIAL IMAGE

CRIME SCENE UNIT Items Found Near Otzi’s Body Copper Axe (rare and expensive at that time) Flint-bladed knife 14 arrows, only 2 were finished Bow

CLOTHING He was wearing sophisticated clothing Cloak of woven grass Coat, belt, and shoes made of leather Bearskin hat Wide, waterproof shoes, made for walking on snow

CLOTHING IMAGES

BIO ANALYSIS X-Rays show that there was an arrowhead lodged in his left shoulder He was shot from behind Analysis shows the arrow shaft was removed before death There were numerous cuts and bruises on his body He suffered severe head trauma (struck on the back of his head) Blood from 4 different individuals on his gear 2 people’s blood was found on one of his arrowheads

X-RAY Arrowhead Cracked Ribs

TATTOOS Otzi had 61 tattoos Some of his tattoos correspond to acupuncture points (to relieve pain) Many were parrallel lines Some were a cruciform behind the right knee and right ankle

MOVEMENTS Otzi had been in a lower altitude and then travelled to a higher altitude and then came back down a bit more He travelled quite a bit Was he running from someone/something?

WHO WAS OTZI What do you think? Look at the facts, examine the evidence, analyze the clues Come up with a theory as to who Otzi was – Make a profile of the victim What did he do for a living? Why was he up in the mountains? Why did he have an expensive axe? What can you make of all his gear and stuff?

HOW DID OTZI DIE? Now that you came up with a theory of who Otzi was, how do you think he died? What caused his death? Was he murdered? Come up with a theory that takes into account all of the evidence, facts, and clues.

GO HOME TONIGHT… Put on your detective hats Think about the Otzi case Come to school tomorrow with your theories about how he was and how and why he died