A look at the research

The Iceman provides a unique window to the past

Never before has such an ancient frozen mummy been found that is so well-preserved from the Neolithic. 

Since his discovery in 1991 the Iceman has provided new data about prehistoric times for countless research disciplines around the globe, both in the natural sciences and the humanities. In this way the Iceman has become and continues to be a unique example of how interdisciplinary research work yields positive results. 

The South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology coordinates research about the Iceman, or Ötzi as he is locally known. The scientific staff works on a variety of national and international research projects of their own and on cross-museum projects. (link a 3.2. Current Research Projects-Ötzi)

External research proposals can be submitted under Research Access. (link to 2.1 Project Applications)

Archaeology of the Southern Alpine Arc

There have been traces of human settlements in South Tyrol since the Mesolithic. In the Copper Age, the high mountains also became an economic and transit area; the discovery of imports demonstrates a degree of mobility that is already impressive from a modern perspective. 

The South Tyrolean Museum of Archaeology initiates and supervises its own archaeological research projects that document the life and culture of Alpine inhabitants from the Postglacial to the Carolingian period (link to 3.2. Current Research Projects-non Ötzi). Interdisciplinary approaches are usually pursued in collaboration with international institutions. 

The findings of research work result in special exhibitions on archaeological topics pertaining to South Tyrol, in specialist publications, and in a series of academic volumes entitled, “Schriften des Südtiroler Archäologiemuseums / Collana del Museo Archeologico dell’Alto Adige” which has been published since 1999 (link to 5.1. Monographs).