What were two items found with the Iceman or to do with his body and how have they enhance our knowledge and understanding of the man and the time

Two items found with the iceman would include an unfinished yew longbow of 1.82 meters long and a copper axe, 60 centimeters at its haft and 9.5centimeters long axe head. In relation the yew longbow, it concisely portrays the Otzi Iceman as a hunter or a warrior during his time. It also helps us date the time in which he came from as we can date the time the longbow was made and just the mere observation of the time it would be used. This item helps us understand his role at the time and his capabilities as well as the possible cause of death as the bow was incomplete and supports the theory that he escaped town in a rush or the possibility that he was unprepared for his attacker. It also proposed the possibility that he was a hunter or gatherer, although proved later on that he was a pastoralist who cared for animals. These are also significant for Otzi at his time of the Iron Age as being the oldest intact remaining mummy, he proves to scientists that smelting was available way before predicted.

In the case of the copper axe, it significantly exemplifies the status of the Iceman, as this tool would be a valuable possession at the time and we see through this he wasn’t just a hunter but someone of social significance it supports the theory that he could be a shaman. Archaeological experiments have shown that the copper axe was an ideal tool for felling trees and could fell a yew tree in 35 minutes without sharpening. The axe was therefore not just a symbol of rank as around 3000 years BC, copper axes were a status symbol and shows that he may have been a tribal leader. This can be supported from other grave finds. Through understanding the status and hunting capabilities, we can question the cause of the Iceman’s death.