Iceman - Preservation
1. Explain why the iceman was so well preserved? ( source one)
It is said that a frozen body will stay preserved over hundreds, even thousand of years.
During the first stage of investigations Austrian archaeologist Konrad Spindler researched the layout which had proved that the iceman's body position and placement of weapons were preserved in the same position from when the Iceman had died, it had also been proved that the body was initially covered in a thin layer of snow which had helped complete the freeze drying process before it turned into ice.
The body had been so well preserved because of the depth that the Iceman was actually lying in the ground, which was near the watershed (watershed meaning a line of high land where streams on one side flow into one river or sea and streams on the other side flow into another.) This meant that a glacier would be able to develop above him throughout the next millennia without moving his position down hill. In this position he was able to remain buried, frozen, covered and protected by the cold over a period of 5,300 years as the worlds oldest, best preserved natural mummy.
2a) What purpose do you think the tattoo served? (Source 2)
Scientists believe that the Iceman's tattoo's were first applied in 3,200 BC, the first evidence of acupuncture.
Based on this information I believe that this cruciform tattoo' was marked on the iceman's body in order to serve as a medical and therapeutic purpose, as it was discovered that he suffered from Acute Arthritis, Worms and Diarrhoea.
Dr Frank Bahr (President of the German Academy for Acupuncture) who studies the trends and patterns of the iceman's tattoos, believes that the cruciform, meaning cross-shape, tattoo and a master point tattoo on his back were applied in order to treat
It is said that a frozen body will stay preserved over hundreds, even thousand of years.
During the first stage of investigations Austrian archaeologist Konrad Spindler researched the layout which had proved that the iceman's body position and placement of weapons were preserved in the same position from when the Iceman had died, it had also been proved that the body was initially covered in a thin layer of snow which had helped complete the freeze drying process before it turned into ice.
The body had been so well preserved because of the depth that the Iceman was actually lying in the ground, which was near the watershed (watershed meaning a line of high land where streams on one side flow into one river or sea and streams on the other side flow into another.) This meant that a glacier would be able to develop above him throughout the next millennia without moving his position down hill. In this position he was able to remain buried, frozen, covered and protected by the cold over a period of 5,300 years as the worlds oldest, best preserved natural mummy.
2a) What purpose do you think the tattoo served? (Source 2)
Scientists believe that the Iceman's tattoo's were first applied in 3,200 BC, the first evidence of acupuncture.
Based on this information I believe that this cruciform tattoo' was marked on the iceman's body in order to serve as a medical and therapeutic purpose, as it was discovered that he suffered from Acute Arthritis, Worms and Diarrhoea.
Dr Frank Bahr (President of the German Academy for Acupuncture) who studies the trends and patterns of the iceman's tattoos, believes that the cruciform, meaning cross-shape, tattoo and a master point tattoo on his back were applied in order to treat
Bibliography: Konarad Spindler (1995) The Man In The Ice, Orion Books, London Chapter 13 Page 69-71 Toni Hurley, Philippa Medcalf, Jan Rolph (2000) Antiquity 1 Second Edition, Oxford University Press, South Melbourne Victoria, Australia Chapter 1 Page 5 Chapter 10 Page 103, 104, 113 Scott Fetzer (1991) The World Book Encyclopedia, World Book Inc, Chicago London Sydney Toronto