1. Chapter 2 Lesson 2
Iceman of the Alps

2. Do Now Why are artifacts so important when studying history?
Hint: Think about what an archaeologist do. .

3. Historians are like Detectives
Historians use:
Written Sources
Artifacts
Secondary Sources
Oral Tradition .
Archaeologists are like Detectives
Archaeologists study the remains of past cultures
Excavate historical sites
Discovery, identify and solve these remains
They take x-rays to see what is inside an object
They test for the age of the artifact

4. Imagine This:
On Thursday, September 19, 1991, two hikers in the Alps made a remarkable discovery. Erika and Helmut Simon had been hiking on the border between Italy and Austria. When they roamed off the traditional path, they discovered a small head and shoulders emerging from the ice. At first, they thought it was doll. But when they noticed a small hole in the back of the neck, they knew it was human. They wondered if this man had just made his way off the path and froze to death in a storm or if someone had suddenly murdered him from behind.
What they did not know is that they discovered a body that was 5,300 years old – one of the earliest mummies ever found.

7. Iceman was found in the Alps
Europe’s highest mountain range
Snow begins to melt
1991 German hikers
Doll’s head?
Police unimpressed
Jackhammer
Thought it was a typical dead hiker
Hairdryers
Austria and Italy fought over the Iceman

8. Who was the Iceman? 5,300 year old mummy 25-35 year old man
5’3 – 110 pounds
Deerskin jacket
Leather shoes
Woven grass cape
Pack filled with tools
Oldest human body ever found

11. Studying the Iceman
Austrian archaeologist Konrad Spindler studied the Iceman
Collected tools and clothing
Axe made of copper
Knife made of chipped stone
Manhandling of Iceman did damage to body and artifacts
Carbon 14 testing concluded between 5,000-5,300 years old
Studying wear on teeth determined between years old

14. The Iceman Today
Rests in a high-humidity chamber kept constantly at 21 degrees F
Reconstruction of the Iceman’s Face
Studied computer images and made plastic skull
Mold clay into cheeks and other muscles
Added a nose and teeth

15. Iceman Medical Problems
Cool Iceman Facts
He has no wisdom teeth
Only 11 set of ribs instead of the normal 12
Gap between 2 front teeth
Iceman Medical Problems
Eight rib fractures
Arthritis in the neck, lower back, and hip
Heart disease
Fractured jaw

17. Theories of the Iceman Fugitive who had been beaten Hypothermia
Leader of a group
Killed in ritual sacrifice
Farmer or Shepherd
Religious Cult
Murdered
Fell on his own arrow

18. Working as an Archaeologist
You are an archaeologist working with Konrad Spindler. You are studying the Iceman and his belongings that have been uncovered from a glacier in the Alps. Summarize your findings for your colleagues by explaining what you think each of the artifacts reveal about the Iceman.
Traces of grain in the melted snow and ice.
Small net with wide spaces in the mesh.
Knife blades, rope, and hunting arrow.
Two small beads of fungus on a leather strap.
Amount of wear on the Iceman’s teeth.
Result of carbon dating of skin samples.