Archaeology: Methods of Preservation (Tutankhamen & Iceman)

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Preliminary Research Reports

Part A: Exhibition, Ötzi (human remains)

Part B: Research, Tutankhamen

PART A: ÖTZI, THE ICE-MAN

Background of Discovery

Ice-man or Ötzi as he is affectionately known was discovered in 1991 by two German hikers in the Alps on the Austro-Italian border. The hikers from Nuremberg were on a mountain trek when they came across what resembled human remains; they took a photograph and alerted the authorities. The police assumed the couple had found a 'glacial corpse', which are common in the area1. The Austrian authorities took charge and freed the body from the ice with a jackhammer (which some think accounts for Ötzi's broken ribs and wounds on his side) and scattered and destroyed some of Ötzi's possessions2. The body was then rushed to the forensic unit at the University of Innsbruck, Austria. Professor Konrad Spindler took charge of the body and began his research, he determined from an axe found with the body that Ötzi was at least 4000 years old3, later forensic examinations, such as radiocarbon dating found Ötzi to have lived 5,300 years ago4. It was initially thought Ötzi was stuck in a snow storm5 but he was later determined to have died of a lesion to the subclavan artery caused by an arrow wound6.

Methods of Preservation

The circumstances of Ötzi's death, although unfortunate for himself were extremely good for modern scientists and archaeologists. The body of Ötzi is a superb example of 'wet mummy' or 'ice mummy' preservation. Ötzi's body had been trapped under glacial ice for over 5000 years; this and the relatively low amount of sunlight received at that underground level helped to deter bacteria from growing in and decaying the body. In 2001 however Thomas Bereuter (of Vienna University of Technology) took samples of Ötzi's skin to determine why Ötzi had been preserved so well. In looking for chemical changes Bereuter discovered that Ötzi's body fat had been converted into a material known as adipocere, a waxy substance almost completely resistant to decay. Adipocere can only form if a body is in water, leading to the conclusion that the ice-man was not always frozen7. At Innsbruck Ötzi's body began to grow fungi after being exposed to room temperature during a medical examination, it was soon realised that Ötzi's alpine condition would need to be recreated; the body was put into a freezer and when taken out was only allowed to be in room temperature for half an hour8. In addition Ötzi's body is also sprayed with water regularly to prevent it from dehydrating. In 1998 Ötzi's body was transported to Bolzano (Italy)9, the move had to occur quickly to prevent another growth of fungi in the body. Ötzi was soon rushed into the South Tyrol Museum, where a specially made display case was waiting; the ice-man is only put on display for a certain amount of time (12 hours) before being wheeled back into a freezer10.
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Sources & Supporting Evidence

Source 1:

Myself, J.....n, M...n & A....a with Ötzi.

N.B. Ötzi's clothes have been recreated, highlighting how harsh alpine conditions must have been.

Source 2: T. Hurley, et al, Antiquity 1 Past Perspectives

The body of Ötzi. The body is missing the epidermis (outer layer of skin) revealing the adipocere (fat converted to wax), which played a significant part in preservation.

Source 3:

This photo depicts information on the excavation of Ötzi and his artefacts. Taken from the Maritime Museum exhibit.

Source 4: http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/horizon/2001/icemanmummy.shtml#

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