Ötzi, 30 years on: A reappraisal of the depositional and post-depositional history of the find

When Ötzi, the Iceman, was found in a gully Tisenjoch pass Tyrolean Alps 1991, he huge surprise for archaeological community. The lead initial investigator of find argued that it unique, preserved by serendipitous circumstances. It hypothesised mummy with associated artefacts had been quickly covered glacier ice and stayed buried until melt-out 1991. is now more than 30 years since Ötzi appeared. In this paper, we take closer look at how can be understood today, benefitting from increased knowledge gained two decades investigations other glacial sites, previous palaeo-biological assemblage. light radiocarbon dates new glaciological evidence regarding mass balance, likely not permanently immediately after his death, but where lay repeatedly exposed over next 1500 years. We discuss nature covering site, which commonly described as basally sliding glacier. Based on available evidence, better non-moving, stationary field snow ice, frozen to bedrock. damaged were probably broken typical postdepositional processes not, previously claimed, during conflict prior Ötzi’s flight valley below.