Analysis of the Artefacts of the Ice Man of Hauslabjoch

Summary

This unpublished report describes an examination of artifacts assoicated with the "Ice Man."

Artefacts associated with the mummified remains of the "Ice Man" now familiarly known as Otzi, were examined in November 1993 at the Romisch-Germanischen Zenrtalmuseum (Romano-German Central Museum, RGZM) in Maniz, Germany. Optical microscopy and simple chemical screening were used to detect the presence of organic use-residues. Approximately 70 hours of microscopic examination were carried out in Mainz in late November 1993 and 720 photomicrograph exposes were made. These photographs were recorded as 74 submect groups which comprise 56 samples (including 7 hair samples from the skin clothing and three samples of potential surface contaminants) were removed and taken to Australia for further analysis. A screening test that detects hemoglobin was used to test residue extracts from locations selected during the microscopic examination. The results of this analysis confirmed the presence of blood, hairs, collagen and starches on the tools and provided samples for further detailed analyses. This report sets out the methods used, summarizes the results of microscopy and chemical screening.

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