08.09.2016 – 2:59 pm

25 years of Ötzi the Iceman: The Events

Press conference on Thursday, 1 September 2016 at 10.30 am in the press room of the Regional Public Relations Office (Landespresseamt), Landhaus 1, Silvius-Magnago-Platz 1, Bolzano

It has been 25 years since Ötzi was first discovered on Tisenjoch, Schnals Valley in the Ötztal Alps on 19 September 1991. Florian Mussner, Regional Councillor for Museums, Karin Dalla Torre, Director of Regional Museums, and South Tyrolean institutions (listed below) that communicate, exhibit and conduct research on the subject of Ötzi, held a press conference today to commemorate the discovery and to present a programme of events:
–  The South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology in Bolzano, where Ötzi and his artefacts have been preserved since 1998,
–  The EURAC Institute for Mummies and the Iceman, Bolzano, which has been carrying out research into Ötzi since July 2007 and has been responsible for his conservation,
–   The archeoParc Schnals Valley, where Ötzi’s living environment is recreated.

Programme of events around 19 September 2016

Schnals Valley

Friday, 16 September 2016, 4 pm: Gathering for eye witnesses in the Schnals Valley. A gathering in the archeoParc Schnals Valley of everyone who played a part in Ötzi’s discovery 25 years ago, including mountaineer Reinhold Messner and discoverer Erika Simon. Closed event. Participation for journalists with press accreditation. Organiser: Tourist Board, Schnals Valley.

Saturday, 17 September and Sunday, 18 September 2016: Inaugural music festival and sports events in Unser Frau, Vernagt am See and at the Schnals Valley Glacier: Concerts with music by Dominik Plangger, Mainfelt and Loud. World record attempt by the Rosenheim slackliner Alexander Schulz with a workshop for children and adults. Organiser: Tourist Board Schnals Valley.

Monday, 19 September 2016, 10 am to 5 pm: Free admission for all to the archeoParc Schnals Valley with hourly guided tours and a special programme in the visitors’ workshop. Organiser: archeoParc Schnals Valley.

Monday, 19 September 2016, all day: Beacon ceremony at the Ötzi discovery site on Tisenjoch. Organiser: Schnals Valley Mountain Rescue.

Monday, 19 September to Saturday, 24 September 2016: Themed week of programmes for guests in the Schnals Valley. Mountain hike through Tisen Valley to the Ötzi discovery site on Monday; Ötzi glacier tour on Tuesday; cultural and educational nature excursion for children on Tuesday; archaeological mountain hike on Wednesday; archery workshop on Saturday; autograph session with Armin Barducci and Eleonora Suri Bovo, authors of a comic about Ötzi. These events will take place in September 2016 or weekly throughout the year. Various organisers .

Saturday, 24 September and Sunday, 25 September 2016: European championships in prehistoric archery and spear throwing. These championships will be held in Ötzi’s former hunting grounds for the 5th time. Professionals and amateurs from various countries can put their skills to the test with bows and arrows made of materials from Ötzi’s day. Organiser: archeoParc.

Bolzano/Bozen

Sunday, 18 September 2016, 10 am to 6 pm: Free admission for everyone to the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology, Bolzano. Organiser: South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology.

Monday, 19 September 2016, 9.30 am: Opening of the 3rd Bolzano Mummy Congress – Ötzi: 25 years of research (until 21 September), at which many new research findings about Ötzi will be presented, EURAC Bolzano. Participation by pre-arrangement only and for journalists with press accreditation at press@eurac.edu. Organiser: EURAC Institute for Mummies and the Iceman and the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology.

From Monday, 19 September to Sunday, 25 September 2016: lights and image mapping projected on the front-facade of the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology.

Tuesday, 20 September 2016, 6 pm: Round Table discussion, 3rd Bolzano Mummy Congress – Ötzi: 25 years of research, EURAC Bolzano: Case analysis of Ötzi – new clues on the murder of the Iceman with Alexander Horn (profiling), Albert Zink (scientific research into the Iceman), Oliver Peschel (forensic medicine, pathology), Klaus Oeggl (botany, time of death), Paul Gleischer (archaeology), Frank Rühli (radiology). Moderator: Martina Schönfeld, ZDF editor-in-chief for history and science. Organiser: EURAC Institute for Mummies and the Iceman and the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology.

Press conference participants

Florian Mussner, Regional Councillor for Museums
Karin Dalla Torre, Director of the Department of Museums and Regional Museums
Karl Josef Rainer, Mayor of Schnals
Angelika Fleckinger, Director of the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology
Albert Zink, Director of the EURAC Institute for Mummies and the Iceman

Photos

The photos can be used free of charge provided that the copyright is mentioned.
Discovery site at Tisenjoch © archeoParc/ganeshGraphics
Open-air site at archeoParc Schnals Valley © archeoParc/Johanna Niederkofler
New open air-area in the archeoParc Schnals Valley © archeoParc/Gianni Bodini
19991 – Finding date of the Iceman in a mowed meadow below Tisen Valley © archeoParc/Johanna Niederkofler
Reconstruction of Ötzi the Iceman in the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology © South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology/Kennis/A.Ochsenreiter
South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology in Bolzano © Südtiroler Archäologiemuseum/foto-dpi.com
Research on the Iceman © EURAC/Marion Lafogler

Press contact

Katharina Hersel
South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology
Museumstr. 43, I-39100 Bolzano
T +39 0471 320114, F +39 0471 320122
press@iceman.it, www.iceman.it
Facebook: OetziTheIceman