Ötzi's Funeral
August 27, 2010 6:51 AM Subscribe
A new study mapping the locations of artifacts around Ötzi the Iceman's final resting place suggests he was transported there for a ceremonial burial, and did not die alone as previously suggested. Via.
With the long hair, tattoos, leather jacket and knife, I'm pretty sure he was from New Hampshire and his friends probably called him Ozzy.
posted by kuujjuarapik at 7:08 AM on August 27, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by kuujjuarapik at 7:08 AM on August 27, 2010 [2 favorites]
And Albert Zink, who directs the Institute for Mummies and the Iceman at the European Academy of Bolzano in Italy...
I. WANT. THAT. T-SHIRT.
posted by PlusDistance at 7:09 AM on August 27, 2010 [8 favorites]
I. WANT. THAT. T-SHIRT.
posted by PlusDistance at 7:09 AM on August 27, 2010 [8 favorites]
And an unfinished bow is an odd thing for a lone man to carry over a mountain pass.
When I've read about this before, I assumed that his original bow had been lost or broken in a fight (his injuries would seem to support that) and he had started making himself a new bow. I have to say I don't buy this ceremonial burial idea. It doesn't seem as likely as a (presumed) couple of companions arranging him while he died from his wounds before they left his body behind to try to get themselves home. The ceremonial burial idea strikes me as a sentimental gesture by folks who don't like the idea their precious Otzi died wounded and in pain far from home (which other evidence has always suggested), or even worse, that he was intruding (or poaching?) on someone else's territory and paid for it badly.
posted by aught at 7:30 AM on August 27, 2010
When I've read about this before, I assumed that his original bow had been lost or broken in a fight (his injuries would seem to support that) and he had started making himself a new bow. I have to say I don't buy this ceremonial burial idea. It doesn't seem as likely as a (presumed) couple of companions arranging him while he died from his wounds before they left his body behind to try to get themselves home. The ceremonial burial idea strikes me as a sentimental gesture by folks who don't like the idea their precious Otzi died wounded and in pain far from home (which other evidence has always suggested), or even worse, that he was intruding (or poaching?) on someone else's territory and paid for it badly.
posted by aught at 7:30 AM on August 27, 2010
.
posted by furiousxgeorge at 7:44 AM on August 27, 2010
posted by furiousxgeorge at 7:44 AM on August 27, 2010
If *I* were traveling alone, I'd definitely bring along something to work on during rest periods. That something would likely be a tool or weapon.
Are you saying you'd prefer to get caught knapping?
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 7:45 AM on August 27, 2010 [8 favorites]
Are you saying you'd prefer to get caught knapping?
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 7:45 AM on August 27, 2010 [8 favorites]
Ötzi’s wound should have prevented him from walking up the mountain.
Is there any reason to assume he was not injured on the mountain?
posted by GenjiandProust at 7:53 AM on August 27, 2010
Is there any reason to assume he was not injured on the mountain?
posted by GenjiandProust at 7:53 AM on August 27, 2010
This is fascinating, thanks for posting this. Team Ötzi!
I'd like to read the original article to see all the evidence it's using to make its case. I'm curious how they determined that these objects were "carefully placed" instead of randomly dropped around the grave's immediate area. In the map of the scene at the sidebar of the story linked, there is an area at the bottom shaded in the green oval the appears to document three placements that appear equidistant, but without information about what these three items were, specifically, it's hard to tell, especially since I'm not seeing a pattern of objects anywhere else at the scene (are they saying all the other randomly placed objects were originally carefully placed, then moved by foraging animals?).
Also, how do they know the animal hair came from animals foraging the grave, as opposed to hair from fur from the clothes in which he was buried?
posted by Dr. Zira at 8:31 AM on August 27, 2010
I'd like to read the original article to see all the evidence it's using to make its case. I'm curious how they determined that these objects were "carefully placed" instead of randomly dropped around the grave's immediate area. In the map of the scene at the sidebar of the story linked, there is an area at the bottom shaded in the green oval the appears to document three placements that appear equidistant, but without information about what these three items were, specifically, it's hard to tell, especially since I'm not seeing a pattern of objects anywhere else at the scene (are they saying all the other randomly placed objects were originally carefully placed, then moved by foraging animals?).
Also, how do they know the animal hair came from animals foraging the grave, as opposed to hair from fur from the clothes in which he was buried?
posted by Dr. Zira at 8:31 AM on August 27, 2010
His arm was flung uncomfortably across his chest which is not consistent with a formal interment.
posted by Henry C. Mabuse at 8:31 AM on August 27, 2010
posted by Henry C. Mabuse at 8:31 AM on August 27, 2010
From the full article (here)*:
An original grouping of all the objects and the iceman himself on the platform need not necessarily imply a burial: the iceman may have collapsed, or decided to lie down or camp exactly on the platform. In this case he and his belongings will have been confined in an area of little more than 2m2. We know he was not wearing the backpack since it did not fall down with the body. If he put down the backpack and lay or sat next to it, no more than 1m2 would have been left on the platform for all the rest of his varied and bulky equipment. If this is feasible, it must be admitted that the resulting archaeological pattern would be hardly distinguishable from that of a grave; however, there is some additional evidence to support the grave hypothesis.
I don't really understand why the objects would not scatter as far if he had placed them on the platform himself than they did when someone else (whoever buried him) placed them on the platform. Any scatter analysis experts here?
*I'm only guessing this works. It works for me right now, but I'm on campus where I have diabolically good journal access.
posted by Eumachia L F at 8:41 AM on August 27, 2010
An original grouping of all the objects and the iceman himself on the platform need not necessarily imply a burial: the iceman may have collapsed, or decided to lie down or camp exactly on the platform. In this case he and his belongings will have been confined in an area of little more than 2m2. We know he was not wearing the backpack since it did not fall down with the body. If he put down the backpack and lay or sat next to it, no more than 1m2 would have been left on the platform for all the rest of his varied and bulky equipment. If this is feasible, it must be admitted that the resulting archaeological pattern would be hardly distinguishable from that of a grave; however, there is some additional evidence to support the grave hypothesis.
I don't really understand why the objects would not scatter as far if he had placed them on the platform himself than they did when someone else (whoever buried him) placed them on the platform. Any scatter analysis experts here?
*I'm only guessing this works. It works for me right now, but I'm on campus where I have diabolically good journal access.
posted by Eumachia L F at 8:41 AM on August 27, 2010
*I'm only guessing this works. It works for me right now, but I'm on campus where I have diabolically good journal access.
Just tried that link, and it takes you a login screen to access the article, so those of us without diabolically good journal access are screwed.
posted by Dr. Zira at 8:45 AM on August 27, 2010
Just tried that link, and it takes you a login screen to access the article, so those of us without diabolically good journal access are screwed.
posted by Dr. Zira at 8:45 AM on August 27, 2010
(sorry)
posted by Eumachia L F at 8:50 AM on August 27, 2010
posted by Eumachia L F at 8:50 AM on August 27, 2010
That's okay, Eumachia L F. Just taunt us with your rock star journal access and the rest of us will gaze at you with forlorn and longing looks of despair.
posted by Dr. Zira at 8:55 AM on August 27, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by Dr. Zira at 8:55 AM on August 27, 2010 [3 favorites]
I've always wanted to be envied!
not really
well, at least not for that
posted by Eumachia L F at 9:07 AM on August 27, 2010
not really
well, at least not for that
posted by Eumachia L F at 9:07 AM on August 27, 2010
Ötzi having been found on the border seems to have spawned a contest between Swiss and Italian crank scientists.
"But not everyone is convinced." Include me on that list please.
"If Ötzi had lain down on the rock with his goods close about him, his possessions would not have been so widely scattered, they say." Except, you know, his corpse was found in a dynamic environment not in a dry cave. "... buried by his fellows in the warm summer months." is not conducive to mummification. Ceremonial denotes a ritual and - someone correct me if I'm wrong please- but Ötzi is famous because we haven't found any other similar "burials".
The image of a solemn burial in the stony windswept mountains is an attractive one but I don't think the evidence supports it. Having watched quite a few archaeology documentaries and read a few articles I think that archaeologists are wont and quick to ascribe spiritual meaning to fucking everything. It's as though they can't conceive of ancient people having laughed and played and fucked. No, those small wooden carvings of animals aren't worship objects - they are toys the parents carved for the damn kids to play with so the parents could have a moments peace. No, those square flat-sided stones with markings aren't for predicting the future - they are dice for Monopoly 3050 BC ed. No, that small stone figurine of a nude woman isn't a fertility goddess - it's porn.
posted by vapidave at 10:34 AM on August 27, 2010
"But not everyone is convinced." Include me on that list please.
"If Ötzi had lain down on the rock with his goods close about him, his possessions would not have been so widely scattered, they say." Except, you know, his corpse was found in a dynamic environment not in a dry cave. "... buried by his fellows in the warm summer months." is not conducive to mummification. Ceremonial denotes a ritual and - someone correct me if I'm wrong please- but Ötzi is famous because we haven't found any other similar "burials".
The image of a solemn burial in the stony windswept mountains is an attractive one but I don't think the evidence supports it. Having watched quite a few archaeology documentaries and read a few articles I think that archaeologists are wont and quick to ascribe spiritual meaning to fucking everything. It's as though they can't conceive of ancient people having laughed and played and fucked. No, those small wooden carvings of animals aren't worship objects - they are toys the parents carved for the damn kids to play with so the parents could have a moments peace. No, those square flat-sided stones with markings aren't for predicting the future - they are dice for Monopoly 3050 BC ed. No, that small stone figurine of a nude woman isn't a fertility goddess - it's porn.
posted by vapidave at 10:34 AM on August 27, 2010
No, vapidave, Paleolithic nude females weren't porn. I've studied anthropology and your non-expert interpretation is weird and anti-science.
posted by autoclavicle at 11:12 AM on August 27, 2010
posted by autoclavicle at 11:12 AM on August 27, 2010
I. WANT. THAT. T-SHIRT.
HOLY CRAP YES. That, and/or the Mummy Congress T-shirt. MUMMY CONGRESS!
posted by Gator at 11:17 AM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]
HOLY CRAP YES. That, and/or the Mummy Congress T-shirt. MUMMY CONGRESS!
posted by Gator at 11:17 AM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]
Sorry autoclavicle. Your field suffers a conceited need to imbue every object it finds with spiritual meaning and the owners of the objects aren't around to be interviewed. I'm not saying that all the objects were toys or games or porn. I'm saying that never once have I seen an object described as such* and a cursory glance at modern people would indicate that we do spend time producing toys and games and porn and not exclusively "ritual objects".
*If I am incorrect in this matter please provide citations as that would be, you know, the pro-scientific way to conduct this debate rather than attacking my interpretation.
posted by vapidave at 12:00 PM on August 27, 2010 [2 favorites]
*If I am incorrect in this matter please provide citations as that would be, you know, the pro-scientific way to conduct this debate rather than attacking my interpretation.
posted by vapidave at 12:00 PM on August 27, 2010 [2 favorites]
From the museum link: The Iceman probably bled to death within a matter of minutes. In addition, a deep wound to the hand and numerous abrasions and bruises confirm that the Iceman was involved in hand-to-hand combat shortly before his death.
A discussion of Ötzi (particularly his processions) shows up in Bill Bryson's new book, At Home. One of the questions Bryson raises is: Why didn't his killer(s) track him down and take his stuff? Otzi had a lot of great stuff, which makes him so valuable and interesting to anthropologists,
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 12:52 PM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]
A discussion of Ötzi (particularly his processions) shows up in Bill Bryson's new book, At Home. One of the questions Bryson raises is: Why didn't his killer(s) track him down and take his stuff? Otzi had a lot of great stuff, which makes him so valuable and interesting to anthropologists,
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 12:52 PM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]
Why didn't his killer(s) track him down and take his stuff?
Maybe they were concerned Ötzi might not have been alone? Maybe there was a storm coming? Maybe it was dark? Maybe they were bad at tracking people?
posted by jedicus at 9:09 PM on August 28, 2010
Maybe they were concerned Ötzi might not have been alone? Maybe there was a storm coming? Maybe it was dark? Maybe they were bad at tracking people?
posted by jedicus at 9:09 PM on August 28, 2010
Bad at tracking people? Are you kidding me? To survive at that time and in that place you would have had to be an outstanding tracker and expert hunter. Look at Ötzi himself-- he is wearing the skins of 13 or 14 different kinds of animals. Plus, if he did bleed out in minutes that would have left a very clear trail of blood that even you or I could have followed.
Second, the idea that they scurried off because a storm was coming makes little sense. These are not tourists caught unawares-- these are people who would have known the surrounding area and the weather intimately. Why engage in combat at that time, expend the energy and resources if you are not going to profit from it?
The only scenerios I can think of is:
1) He wasn't alone and his friends left him and all his possessions when he died because either they were in a hurry or else there was some tabu against taking things from the dead. 2) His enemies left hm to die alone because he was so alien to them, they were afraid of him and his stuff.
3) His enemies left him to die alone because they themselves were injured and had to go off somewhere to attend to their wounds.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 7:23 AM on August 29, 2010
Second, the idea that they scurried off because a storm was coming makes little sense. These are not tourists caught unawares-- these are people who would have known the surrounding area and the weather intimately. Why engage in combat at that time, expend the energy and resources if you are not going to profit from it?
The only scenerios I can think of is:
1) He wasn't alone and his friends left him and all his possessions when he died because either they were in a hurry or else there was some tabu against taking things from the dead. 2) His enemies left hm to die alone because he was so alien to them, they were afraid of him and his stuff.
3) His enemies left him to die alone because they themselves were injured and had to go off somewhere to attend to their wounds.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 7:23 AM on August 29, 2010
Bad at tracking people? Are you kidding me? To survive at that time and in that place you would have had to be an outstanding tracker and expert hunter. Look at Ötzi himself-- he is wearing the skins of 13 or 14 different kinds of animals. Plus, if he did bleed out in minutes that would have left a very clear trail of blood that even you or I could have followed.
Secret Life of Gravy, I know you've seen a lot of great movies, where the Skilled Tracker closely inspects a moss fragment, and thereby deduces that the criminal was left-handed and had gas, but In Real Life... someone fleeing in sparsely-covered mountains, possibly at night (pre-flashlights), is only easy to track as long as you can either see or hear them.
Otzi's garment fur variety speaks of need, not exotic hunting skills. This isn't a Rich White Hunter on African safari. As for "13 or 14", my resources suggest more like 4-5... which isn't too much. If I was a hunter-gatherer, I'd be eating that many animals... in fact, I shop at grocery stores, and I do.
posted by IAmBroom at 6:25 PM on August 29, 2010
Secret Life of Gravy, I know you've seen a lot of great movies, where the Skilled Tracker closely inspects a moss fragment, and thereby deduces that the criminal was left-handed and had gas, but In Real Life... someone fleeing in sparsely-covered mountains, possibly at night (pre-flashlights), is only easy to track as long as you can either see or hear them.
Otzi's garment fur variety speaks of need, not exotic hunting skills. This isn't a Rich White Hunter on African safari. As for "13 or 14", my resources suggest more like 4-5... which isn't too much. If I was a hunter-gatherer, I'd be eating that many animals... in fact, I shop at grocery stores, and I do.
posted by IAmBroom at 6:25 PM on August 29, 2010
These are not tourists caught unawares-- these are people who would have known the surrounding area and the weather intimately.
I think it is fitting that this was posted five years after the Katrina disaster, in which, you will recall, after decades of knowing what would happen to New Orleans and failing to do anything about it compounded with days of technology being used to track and communicate about the incoming storm and it's magnitude, thousands of people still were left unprepared. Seriously, it may be true that stone aged people may have known a bit more lore about the weather, but being caught unprepared by a storm it is still an ongoing concern in our age of satellites and telecommunications.
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 12:01 PM on August 30, 2010 [1 favorite]
I think it is fitting that this was posted five years after the Katrina disaster, in which, you will recall, after decades of knowing what would happen to New Orleans and failing to do anything about it compounded with days of technology being used to track and communicate about the incoming storm and it's magnitude, thousands of people still were left unprepared. Seriously, it may be true that stone aged people may have known a bit more lore about the weather, but being caught unprepared by a storm it is still an ongoing concern in our age of satellites and telecommunications.
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 12:01 PM on August 30, 2010 [1 favorite]
As the arctic melts, archaeologists discover a lost civilization
posted by homunculus at 4:29 PM on September 15, 2010
posted by homunculus at 4:29 PM on September 15, 2010
See? I told you global warming wasn't a problem!
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 8:29 AM on September 17, 2010
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 8:29 AM on September 17, 2010
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Circular argument.
I>Among the larger artifacts, only the backpack frame, trapped against the rock, remained in place. Human and animal hair on the platform—which is uphill from the body’s final resting place—are “inconsistent with the disaster theory that the Iceman died where he was found,” the authors write.
OK.
If Ötzi had lain down on the rock with his goods close about him, his possessions would not have been so widely scattered, they say.
Strawman, as "[p]revious analyses assumed that he discarded these as he succumbed to death from his wounds and the harsh winter."
And an unfinished bow is an odd thing for a lone man to carry over a mountain pass.
If *I* were traveling alone, I'd definitely bring along something to work on during rest periods. That something would likely be a tool or weapon.
posted by DU at 7:02 AM on August 27, 2010 [3 favorites]