ME 2:2 Flashcards
Why is the Iceman so significant? Provide examples of the contributions Otzi has made to the understanding of Neolithic culture.
The Iceman is a significant find as he holds a wealth of information about the late Neolithic, a time period there previously wasn’t much information about.
Technological skills (tools), parts of daily life (medicine, food, clothes…)
How was the Iceman preserved for more than 50 centuries?
The Iceman was preserved due to exposure to cold winds and snowfall that froze and eventually encased the mummy into a glacier.
Why was the extraction of the Iceman NOT an example of archeological research?
It was poorly conducted and damaged the mummy irreversibly due to it being conducted with no intent to preserve it and no awareness of its value.
What were some of the iceman’s adornments? How did they differ from modern adornments?
The Iceman wore jewelry (necklace, maybe an earring), much like modern people. He also had tattoos but they were covered up, unlike those of today that are shown off.
What do the artifacts found with the Iceman demonstrate about the Iceman’s knowledge of his environment?
Cape, warm clothes and shoes, embers and tinder all show that the Iceman was aware of the environment’s climate and challenges.
What evidence did the discovery provide that the Iceman was no wimp even though he was small in stature?
The size of his bow—which required immense strength to operate—and the other equipment he was found with. He was equipped with a copper axe, flint blades, and a quiver of two arrows and twelve shafts.
What does the Iceman reveal about the society in which he lived?
The Iceman’s diet, indicated by his worn teeth, show that he came from a community that farmed. But his equipment showed that he could just as well have sustained himself with materials from the forest.
Peoples of the area and time
Neolithic Europe was already occupied by semi-nomadic people who were skilled in hunting, tracking, and fishing. So the spread of farming communities in the area resulted in a hybrid community.
What political controversies surrounded the Iceman?
Being found in the Oetzaler Alps, it was assumed that Otzi was the property of Austria. However, upon closer inspection, he was found approximately 100 yards inside of Italy’s border. This separated the artifacts and the loaned body.
How does the Iceman compare to other archeological discoveries such as Tutankhamun and the Bogman of Britain?
The discovery of Tutankhamun and the Bogman’s partial remains only reinforced beliefs (about their lives and Celtic tradition and folklore). But the Iceman’s mummy and artifacts revealed a previously completely obscured chapter of Neolithic history.
Explain how archeologists know the Iceman was an “expert” at exploiting the natural resources around him.
The gear and supplies the Iceman carried revealed his expertise with the materials and resources of his environment.
What theories did archeologists have in 1993 regarding the Iceman’s Identity and demise?
Archeologists theorized that the Iceman might have been grazing sheep in the area before his death. Another theory speculates that he was a hunter who came to the valley to cut a new bow but sought shelter and consequently died as a result of bad weather.
How does the Iceman illustrate the value of archaeology?
Archeology can provide people with information about past ways of life, with the Iceman proving just that by providing us with a window into a period of time 5,200 years ago.
10 new pieces of information about the Iceman
- His last meal consisted of a high amount of fat and was well-balanced with carbs and proteins.
- He was right-handed (discovered by analyzing the wear on his tools).
- He lived in a relatively isolated area *his genome had more in common with early Anatolian farmers than his European counterparts)
- He had arthritis and several broken bones
- He was lactose intolerant, predisposed to coronary heart disease, and had type O blood.
- He might have received an early form of acupuncture
- Otzi is older than first suspected, having died at 40-50 years old
- He was predisposed to baldness
- His skin was much darker than depicted, almost like the same color as his skin now
- He was extremely ill at least three times in the last six months of his life (beaus lines)
What is the most current theory regarding the Iceman’s death?
Otzi was most likely murdered from a distance because of a personal grudge.
