In 1991, two hikers taking a mountain shortcut spotted a dark shape in the ice and found a 5,300-year-old traveller

A chance discovery in the Ötztal Alps in 1991 unearthed Ötzi, the Iceman, a Copper Age individual preserved for 5,000 years. His remarkably intact body and accompanying artefacts offer unprecedented insights into ancient life, diet, and even the violent circumstances of his death, transforming him into a pivotal figure in historical research.