Ötzi’s role in society
The question of Ötzi’s role in society is still controversial. The copper axe clearly identifies him as a man of status. Was he a tribal leader? Since he was found on a main route along an alpine ridge, some claim he was a trader. But he didn’t have anything with him that could be identified as trading goods. Others have suggested that he was a shepherd. He was certainly a hunter, but this was a daily occupation of most people in the Alps at the time. Was he a shaman? There is no evidence of this. Was he a fugitive? The fact that he had repaired his equipment in a makeshift manner indicates that he hadn’t lived in a settlement for some time.
His appearance
Ötzi was approx. 1.60 m tall and weighed 50 kg in life. He had dark, medium-long hair, probably had a beard, had brown eyes and, at the age of 45, had already reached a good age for the period.
Reconstruction
The paleo artists Adrie and Alfons Kennis from the Netherlands have completed a life-like reconstruction of the Iceman on behalf of the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology. Thanks to forensic methods and fine craftsmanship, they were able to capture Ötzi’s facial features and reconstruct his body as realistically as possible.
A stereolithograph of Ötzi’s skull, CT images of the mummy and knowledge about the physical characteristics of the Iceman formed the scientific basis for the reconstruction. Using copious amounts of silicon rubber, synthetic resin, coloured pigments and real hair, a picture emerged of what Ötzi may have looked like during his lifetime.
