Who Killed Ötzi the Iceman? Clues Emerge
nytimes.com
Who Killed Ötzi the Iceman? Clues Emerge
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Re: Who Killed Ötzi the Iceman? Clues Emerge
#2Glad to see this piece on HN. Very fascinating.
Re: Who Killed Ötzi the Iceman? Clues Emerge
#3I wonder if Otzi was the instigator in the described conflict. The piece describes him as someone who was not a laborer but did plenty of walking. I can imagine a vagabond type individual traveling place to place taking his pickings from the weaker groups (or perhaps stealing and stabbing in the process seeing how he had little upper body strength but carried a dagger). His clothing is made of multiple furs of multiple species yet he doesn't have a finished bow? I mean, it's possible he was an excellent trapper and caught all them animals OR did he take his possessions elsewhere? I can just picture him coming up on a small village, stealing some stuff and stabbing the individual who confronted him, then retreating back into the mountains. Upon discovery of a crime, a more practiced village member tracks the villain into the mountains and without so much as a flinch pierces him in the back from a distance far off.
Re: Who Killed Ötzi the Iceman? Clues Emerge
#4If this fascinates you I recommend you read https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Better_Angels_of_Our_Natur.... It's a book that talks about violence in history. Ötzi is mentioned and so are a few others.
Re: Who Killed Ötzi the Iceman? Clues Emerge
#5I wonder if Otzi was the instigator in the described conflict. The piece describes him as someone who was not a laborer but did plenty of walking. I can imagine a vagabond type individual traveling place to place taking his pickings from the weaker groups (or perhaps stealing and stabbing in the process seeing how he had little upper body strength but carried a dagger). His clothing is made of multiple furs of multip…
Doesn't explain why Otzi's valuable possessions weren't taken by the avenger. The artifacts were likely left behind because Otzi had ties to the village. Taking those possessions would have tied the avenger to his actions, likely putting the avenger at risk all over again.
Re: Who Killed Ötzi the Iceman? Clues Emerge
#6I wonder if Otzi was the instigator in the described conflict. The piece describes him as someone who was not a laborer but did plenty of walking. I can imagine a vagabond type individual traveling place to place taking his pickings from the weaker groups (or perhaps stealing and stabbing in the process seeing how he had little upper body strength but carried a dagger). His clothing is made of multiple furs of multip…
If he was a thief, why did his killer not take his valuables? If a stranger robs a village and gets killed by the villagers I very much doubt that they would leave anything valuable behind.
Re: Who Killed Ötzi the Iceman? Clues Emerge
#7I wonder if Otzi was the instigator in the described conflict. The piece describes him as someone who was not a laborer but did plenty of walking. I can imagine a vagabond type individual traveling place to place taking his pickings from the weaker groups (or perhaps stealing and stabbing in the process seeing how he had little upper body strength but carried a dagger). His clothing is made of multiple furs of multip…
If he was a thief, why did his killer not take his valuables? If a stranger robs a village and gets killed by the villagers I very much doubt that they would leave anything valuable behind.
Perhaps he took what was his and left his other stuff behind? We'd never know if he did take something back of value (just not everything). Honor among men? I don't know...
Re: Who Killed Ötzi the Iceman? Clues Emerge
#8I wonder if Otzi was the instigator in the described conflict. The piece describes him as someone who was not a laborer but did plenty of walking. I can imagine a vagabond type individual traveling place to place taking his pickings from the weaker groups (or perhaps stealing and stabbing in the process seeing how he had little upper body strength but carried a dagger). His clothing is made of multiple furs of multip…
My theory is that he was an senior elder of his tribe who was either challenged or challenged the leader. (evidence: the expensive furs)
He lost (contrary to the article), was expelled and was followed by some younger member or members and killed to make sure he didn't come back. (evidence - no good bow and only some headed arrows)
His belongings were left either out of respect or that the killers didn't want it known that they killed such a respected elder.
Re: Who Killed Ötzi the Iceman? Clues Emerge
#9I wonder if Otzi was the instigator in the described conflict. The piece describes him as someone who was not a laborer but did plenty of walking. I can imagine a vagabond type individual traveling place to place taking his pickings from the weaker groups (or perhaps stealing and stabbing in the process seeing how he had little upper body strength but carried a dagger). His clothing is made of multiple furs of multip…
I love all the speculation in this thread so I thought I'd just chime in and say blood from four different people has reportedly been found on his weapons. I believe both axe and arrow heads.
This was on HN a few weeks back but I couldn't find that particular article, instead I found one on NatGeo[1] from 2003 saying the same thing.
1. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/10/1030_031030_...
Re: Who Killed Ötzi the Iceman? Clues Emerge
#10I wonder if Otzi was the instigator in the described conflict. The piece describes him as someone who was not a laborer but did plenty of walking. I can imagine a vagabond type individual traveling place to place taking his pickings from the weaker groups (or perhaps stealing and stabbing in the process seeing how he had little upper body strength but carried a dagger). His clothing is made of multiple furs of multip…
>(or perhaps stealing and stabbing in the process seeing how he had little upper body strength but carried a dagger).
I have a lot of doubts about estimating upper body strength from his remainins. You can tell if he was a body builder (or not) yes, but you can have two people with similar muscle mass, but two to nervous system adaptations one might bench 50% more than the other (this is why when you start strength training strength gains out pace muscle gains). Also consider that body builders often complain they look flat of their hydration, sodium or glycogen is low and this guy has been in a dehydrator for thousands of years... TL:DR I'm skeptical of their ability ability to estimate his power generation from his remains.
> His clothing is made of multiple furs of multiple species yet he doesn't have a finished bow? I mean, it's possible he was an excellent trapper and caught all them animals OR did he take his possessions elsewhere?
Thats a pretty big stretch, maybe is last bow broke and he is finishing his new one?
"Ötzi’s longbow was only half a day’s work from completion, he added"
The facts themselves are pretty interesting, Ötzi, unhurried, was shot at prime long distance bow range (33 yards). Possibly while he was bending over, for from someone below him (slope side?).