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Iceman: Uncovering the Life and Times of a Prehistoric Man Found in an Alpine Glacier (2000)

by Brenda Fowler

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1327208,246 (3.25)4
"On a warm September day in 1991, two German hikers stumbled upon a frozen, intact body melting out of the remains of a glacier in the Tyrolean Alps. Over the next few days, as a parade of often irreverent visitors poked and prodded the mummy-like corpse, curious items began to emerge from the ice: an ax with a metal blade, a longbow, finely stitched leather clothing, and, most astonishing of all - boots stuffed with grass. But only after the corpse was recovered and taken for an autopsy to the medical examiner in Innsbruck, Austria, did a vigilant archaeologist recognize that this was no ordinary dead body." "Iceman is the story of the international scientific investigation launched to study the world's oldest naturally preserved human corpse and the astounding cache of prehistoric personal effects found with it. The dramatic narrative takes us from the day of the Iceman's discovery through eight years of scientific investigation, political intrigue, bizarre theories, and ravenous media coverage" "Iceman is not merely a compendium of data but the story of the forces that produced and shaped them. At times, debates over who owned the Iceman and what should be done with him overshadowed the research. Brenda Fowler chronicles the scientists' squabbles and ego trips and the unexpected twists in the research, including the claim that the Iceman was a fraud and the mystery of his missing penis. Along the way, the authority of science is powerfully questioned and then, largely, reaffirmed in a surprise ending that has already led to a reexamination of the Iceman's final hours and his five millennia in the ice."--Jacket.… (more)
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Showing 1-5 of 7 (next | show all)
Irritating but thorough account of his discovery in 1991. I suppose it depends what you want from the book. You get an account of the findings mixed in with loads of information about how the science was done, with all the interpersonal rivalries, financial problems, and commercial interests taking their part. This is not helped by loads of unpronounceable names to me. Basically he is 5300 years old, carrying a copper axe, wearing leather skins, tied with sinews or grass threads, also carrying a flint knife and retouching ivory device, a birch bark container with minimal food and tinder, and no woven clothing at all. Amazing grass poncho over everything and bear shoes and hat for warmth. Quiver full of arrows, unmade bow, amazing what they could find. ( )
  oataker | Oct 3, 2020 |
An interesting book ostensibly about Ötzi the Iceman (Ötzi rhymes with 'tootsie', fact fans). While the book does faithfully report the state of knowledge on this five thousand year old frozen chap at the time it was written, the book is equally about the problems that arise when the media tries to get quick answers from a scientific process that can necessarily take years to complete, as well as the dangers when scientists start to care more about their status with the media and with their earnings than the science they should be doing. Overall it's very interesting, but the fact it was written within ten years of Ötzi's discovery back in 1991 means that there's absolutely no scientific consensus on anything about him present in the book, which means an unfortunate lack of closure when the book suddenly skids to a halt. ( )
  imlee | Jul 7, 2020 |
An interesting book ostensibly about Ötzi the Iceman (Ötzi rhymes with 'tootsie', fact fans). While the book does faithfully report the state of knowledge on this five thousand year old frozen chap at the time it was written, the book is equally about the problems that arise when the media tries to get quick answers from a scientific process that can necessarily take years to complete, as well as the dangers when scientists start to care more about their status with the media and with their earnings than the science they should be doing. Overall it's very interesting, but the fact it was written within ten years of Ötzi's discovery back in 1991 means that there's absolutely no scientific consensus on anything about him present in the book, which means an unfortunate lack of closure when the book suddenly skids to a halt. ( )
  leezeebee | Jul 6, 2020 |
This is an interesting book about how unable a science body can be with a find that noone dreamt about. And about how, when Ötzi was discovered and in subsequent years, certain kinds of information was published (in a way that it reached me) and others not.
Fowler has a good idea about who is to blame for what, but still an incredible amount of research went into this! And it's a good indicator for what anthropological / forensic science can do today.
  Kindlegohome | Sep 15, 2019 |
What ages would I recommend it too? – Twelve and up.

Length? – Several day’s read.

Characters? – Memorable, several characters.

Setting? – Real world 1990's primarily in Austria and Germany.

Written approximately? – 2000.

Does the story leave questions in the readers mind? – Ready to read more. Have more scientific studies been completed?

Any issues the author (or a more recent publisher) should cover? Yes, a updated section on the more recent results. A timeline withing the book would also be nice. I had great difficulty keeping all the "S" names straight, so a two or three sentence segment on each major scientist and location would be greatly helpful.

Short storyline: The history of the finding of the "Iceman" though the next eight years as scientists battle over the media, research opportunities, preservation techniques, and political issues.

Notes for the reader: A fascinating story! A unique look into the lives of how science can really look. Scientists agree and disagree, battle each other, and outsiders, just like any other profession. ( )
  AprilBrown | Feb 25, 2015 |
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"On a warm September day in 1991, two German hikers stumbled upon a frozen, intact body melting out of the remains of a glacier in the Tyrolean Alps. Over the next few days, as a parade of often irreverent visitors poked and prodded the mummy-like corpse, curious items began to emerge from the ice: an ax with a metal blade, a longbow, finely stitched leather clothing, and, most astonishing of all - boots stuffed with grass. But only after the corpse was recovered and taken for an autopsy to the medical examiner in Innsbruck, Austria, did a vigilant archaeologist recognize that this was no ordinary dead body." "Iceman is the story of the international scientific investigation launched to study the world's oldest naturally preserved human corpse and the astounding cache of prehistoric personal effects found with it. The dramatic narrative takes us from the day of the Iceman's discovery through eight years of scientific investigation, political intrigue, bizarre theories, and ravenous media coverage" "Iceman is not merely a compendium of data but the story of the forces that produced and shaped them. At times, debates over who owned the Iceman and what should be done with him overshadowed the research. Brenda Fowler chronicles the scientists' squabbles and ego trips and the unexpected twists in the research, including the claim that the Iceman was a fraud and the mystery of his missing penis. Along the way, the authority of science is powerfully questioned and then, largely, reaffirmed in a surprise ending that has already led to a reexamination of the Iceman's final hours and his five millennia in the ice."--Jacket.

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