Europe’s Oldest Natural Time Traveler

Discovered in 1991, the 5,300-year-old mummy known as Ötzi is Europe's oldest natural human. He provides a perfectly frozen snapshot of life during the Copper Age.

When hikers stumbled upon Ötzi in the Alps, they initially thought he was a modern mountaineer who had recently died. Instead, they uncovered a man from 3300 BC, complete with his original clothing, tools, and even his last meal still in his stomach. His incredibly preserved state has allowed scientists to study everything from his ancient tattoos to his final health struggles. He remains our most detailed window into the lives of early humans.