Until the end of January 2012, the Archaeological Museum of Alto Adige in Bolzano hosts an exhibition of the Oetzi Iceman, found in the Dolomites in 1991.

On the Italian slopes of the glaciers of Senales Valley, in 1991 the mummified body of Oetzi Iceman was extracted, a shepherd who presumably lived in the Dolomites around 3300 B. C, in the Bronze Age.

For many years the mummy was subjected to studies at the University of Innsbruck, but today Oetzi has been “returned home”, as he was discovered in Italian territory, and is finally on display public after 20 years of being discovered. Until 15 January 2012, the Archaeological Museum of Alto Adige in Bolzano hosts the exhibition entitled Oetzi20. Life. Science. Fiction. Reality which explores some of the most famous mummy stories in the world through an exhibition displayed over four floors.

The exhibition allows visitors to observe the prehistoric man up close, conserved in a special case maintaining ideal environmental conditions for conservation. Also on display are new reproductions of natural size, based on a three-dimensional analysis of the skull and remains of clothing and objects found with the mummy (a bow made from yew tree wood, an arrow case with two arrows almost in tact, a rucksack, a knife and a bronze hatchet).

Within the 1200 square metres exhibition is a scientific section which studies the various hypothesis of the cause of death of Oetzi and also a section on the media impact the discovery made on the world.

A particular feature of the Oezti is the small incisions present over the entire body which are considered to be genuine tattoos. In total there are 57 images of the first ever man with tattoos…this is why Oetzi is also very popular among tattoo artists and lovers all over the world, including Hollywood stars such as Brad Pitt, who has had the outline of the mummy tattooed on his forearm.

There are many legends linked to the mummy from the Glacier; a lot of documentation and interactive material is presented at the section dedicated to the “Curse of the Oetzi” which would worry anyone who has worked in contact with the mummy; the German mountaineer Helmut Simone, who took part in the discovery, died when he accidentally fell during a mountain excursion in 2004.

Information
• The Archaeological Museum of Alto Adige is situated in Bolzano, in Via Museo 43, situated at approx. 15 minutes from the station.
• Entrance fees are 9 euros for adults (reduced-priced tickets are 7 euros).
• Opening times: Tuesday – Sunday from 10 – 18. In July, August and December the museum is also open on Mondays.

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