The Schnalstal Valley is well known not only for the place of recreation, sports and struggles or fairy -tale landscapes, it is also a witness to history, which reaches over five thousand years back. To Tisenjoch, where Ötzi’s body was discovered, as well as the Southern Archaeological Museum in Bolzano, where the mummy is, thousands of travelers come who want to learn the history of the ice man.
He lay over 5,000 under ice years. Today, like the biggest celebrity, it attracts tourists who want to see a mysterious ice man
He was September 19, 1991, when Erika and Helmut Simonów, tourists from Germany crossed the glacier. During the journey, they came across a body protruding from ice. The Austria rescue team attempted to get him out of the glacier, which was only done after a few days. Initially, the services thought that these were the corpse of tourists from the last few years ago. However, during research, scientists from the Department of Forensic Medicine at the University of Innsbruck determined that the mummy is over 5000 years old.
– This extraordinary discovery led to a diplomatic dispute between Italy and Austria. The mummy of Ötzi initially went to Italy – to the archaeological museum of southern Tyrol in Bolzano, i.e. the capital of the region. However, the Austrians claimed that it should be exhibited in their country because it comes from the Ötztal Alps, which are geographically belonged to Austria. The dispute attracted international attention, and ultimately the ice man remained at the Bolzano museum, but both countries have access to scientific data and research results – we read in the press release of Southern Tyrol.
South Tyrol. Trip in the footsteps of Ötzi in Schnalstal
The Archaeological Museum of South Tyrol in Bolzano is a place where you can see Ötzi up close. The exhibition covers not only his mummy, but also numerous artifacts found next to him, such as tools, clothing and weapons. All these subjects help visitors to understand Ötzi’s life and his daily classes. Ötzi is one of the best -tested mummies in history. Scientists analyzed his blood group, tattoos, last meal and a number of health problems such as caries, joint degeneration, lactose intolerance, ulcers, Lyme disease and atherosclerosis. It was finally established that Ötzi died a violent death, probably because of the arrow that pierced his artery in the chest cavity.
– The place where this ancient wanderer lived is still not exactly defined, but it was certainly found in the high -mountain regions of the Schnalstal Valley, below the Similaun summit on Tisenjoch. If Ötzi’s body were 93 meters away, it would become an Austrian find – such a distance divides them from the current border – explain the employees of the Press Office of South Tyrol.
It is worth going on a journey around the Ötztal Alps, where Ötzi was discovered. Climbing Similaun’s glacier or visiting the Grupa National Park Di Tessa are great opportunities to feel the proximity of nature and admire the picturesque landscapes. And on the occasion of visiting the Archaeological Museum in Bolzano, it is also worth visiting other attractions of the city and its surroundings. Picturesquely located on the hill, the Runkelstein Castle guarantees beautiful views of the area and hides XIV-war frescoes depicting scenes from knightly life. Gothic cathedral of St. Maria: In the heart of Bolzano impresses with architecture and richly decorated interiors. In turn, at the main square – Walther Square – you can feel the amazing atmosphere of the city and taste regional specialties in one of the numerous cafes and restaurants.
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