The Iceman

Aim: To be able to understand who the iceman was and to associate him to shrinking glaciers.


Shrinking Glaciers? Lets Ask The Ice Man!


The ice has lots of stories to tell and this is just one of them!

 Figure 1: Image of the ice man once discovered (Reference: Ice Man)

• The body of Otzi was discovered by explorers in September 1991 in an Austrian snow field
• Covered by ice for 5000 years and uncovered by the melting ice it was discovered that he died a violent death
• Found with him was a copper bladed axe - a rare and expensive tool back then.
• Estimated age of 40, which was good in the past - his death suggests a political homicide due to his age and the axe wasn't stolen.

This is just one example of discoveries found due to the shrinking ice - can you find any more?



IN PRACTICE: This story provides some interesting facts for students to remember and gives a break from learning definitions and processes to defer from boredom. Could set a homework task of finding more information about the Ice Man or any other discoveries.