ETSI, which is also called Similowski ice man, Tyrolean person or in Zhengzhou, and his wax picture exhibited in the Archaeological Museum of Bolzano in North Italy. This Museum is unique: it was specially built for only one finds himself ETCI is only known in the scientific world well-preserved mummy of a prehistoric man.

19 September 1992, Two German climbers, tour the glacier Similaun in the area of Oetz valley in South Tyrol, came across half buried in the snow human remains. One of his hands, as if hiding her face from the snow or wind, froze up. First accident took as a runaway from a rock climber that, alas, is not uncommon: over the past 200 years, since climbing glaciers-is a popular pastime, that death found hundreds, if not thousands of adventurers. But soon the whole scientific world sensational headlines around the message found wonderfully preserved body of a man who lived in the Alps more than 5 thousand years ago!

Reconstruction of the shape of Atti - ancient man, found in the Tyrolean Alps

It should be noted that until recently, knowledge of archaeologists about the man the ice age, were very scarce: several skulls, fragments of skeletons followed stone, later bone implements, occasionally tombstone, in some regions (mainly in France and Spain) as petroglyphs. In Western Europe, due to the nature of the climate, it is almost impossible for the long term to keep in natural conditions is nothing but stones and bones. But ETSI broke all records: he not only saved himself, but all that could be useful in the mountains to a man of his time, was with him, and in excellent condition. The state of the tissue of his body is such that it is possible to make a clear conclusion: after death, it is first mummified, and then it was covered by a glacier, so that fabrics not turned into a corpse wax, as it usually happens when buried in the ice. The glacier slowly melted, and finally the body was discovered, carefully extracted and after serious fights between the governments of Italy and Austria (where the border between them in the mountains, it is difficult to determine, therefore initially decided that ETSI lay in Austria, but then, as should all promeris, came to the conclusion that after all the mummy found on Italian territory) was sent to scientists for research in Romano-Germanic Museum of the city of Mainz (Germany).

What is learned scholars? ETSI was low (158 cm) Mature male - according to the latest data, age 46 years - and, with the exception of two features, which will be discussed below, no different from today's Europeans. He was a blue-eyed, curly dark brown and, judging by the length of the surviving hair regularly cut. Body ETSI wore tattoos, ear - earring of polished stone with colorful ornaments, chest - decoration or mascot in the form of beads with brush from threads. On his feet he had leather leggings and boots, full of grass for insulation. To the lower end Gamache were sewed fur Shoe covers, which were wound cap boots are very prudent in conditions of snow Alpine winter. Jacket sewn patterned seam from the skins of deer, chamois and wild goats, covered from top to long fur mantle sleeveless, and over - herbal rain ponchos. Such cloaks Tyrolean shepherds wore even a hundred years ago! On his head was a certain similarity fur caps. When ETSI were the whole set of necessary things. In a leather pouch on her belt lay flint weapons (scraper, prokopka and thin blade), bone awl and a piece of tinder to make fire. Also on the belt in braided sheath was hung flint dagger with a wooden handle and Retoucher (a device for sharpening). Near the body was found a large yew bow and a leather quiver with 14 arrows, two of them - with stone-tipped and plumage (and among property was 4 Horny tip on herbal thread). And the tips were attached to the flagpole, rubber-like substance, and not somehow, and at a certain angle, which gives a flying arrow axial rotation, to provide ballistic resistance of the flight. Another ETSI belonged to a rather extravagant fur backpack on a U-shaped wooden frame made of nut-tree and larch. It was a replacement string of the veins, the ball of string, the tip of antlers (probably for evisceration Touche), herbal network (whether a trap for birds, whether hunting tackle more universal application) and two small birch boxes - one, believed to have transported the glowing coals. At the bottom of a backpack find a few grains, one Ternovoy berry and, what is most striking, "travel kit" - two fungus Piptoporus betulinus on a leather strap (and antibiotics and vitamin C!). Of the total number of guns, undoubtedly, allocates the axe from almost pure copper (blade length 9.5 cm), fixed on yew gripe with leather belts and tar glue.

At first, scientists thought that the death of ETSI was natural, from exhaustion. But when the mummy was warmed up to + 2 degrees and investigated by the imager, it was found that between the ribs remained chip arm, broken ribs, spine damaged, nose collapsed, toe frostbitten. Probably ETSI fell victim to a local military conflict: he was wounded four (the remnants of blood on his arms), then someone shot him, and, although the wound was not fatal, poor fellow fell off a cliff and died.

Researchers managed to establish, that in that day (and it was spring or early summer) first he ate cured meats mountain goat with fresh vegetables, then ate fried on fire reindeer. Went through a coniferous forest, as indicated by spruce pollen preserved in the body, clambered down the slope... in General, the study's teeth ETSI shows that his food was quite rude: they are considerably worn, probably along with the food had to chew and sand. But no signs of decay! At the same time the condition of the joints suggests arthritis, high blood cholesterol level (ate ETSI mainly meat). And in the folds of the clothing of ancient climber found eternal calm two fleas...

The age of these finds can be identified using the so-called radiocarbon method (although it isn't very accurate). Now, it is believed that lived ETSI around 5.5-6 thousand years ago. However, not too trusting the carbon-14, the age of human remains appreciate more and found the tools. And then the questions begin. After all considered to be: if guns stone " it is stone age, if copper, respectively, copper... Yes, and within the stone age tools are dated mainly by the degree of their perfection: they are treated roughly or finely. But when Similowski man found as very primitive, almost Neanderthal scrapers, bone products, typical Neolithic and copper axe and bow, as if borrowed from Robin hood! Moreover, tees, made a bow (ideal material for classic English medieval bows), occurs in this area rarely, therefore, specially selected, perhaps delivered from afar. And copper axes, similar to what was ETSI really made nearby (in Readello sotto, Northern Italy) around 2700 BC - thousand years after the death of our "ice man"!

So ETSI simultaneously lived in several epochs, from the stone age to the middle Ages. Archaeologists have stalled. However that may be, perplexed scientists are associated mainly with the fact that so far they had only well-preserved stone and bone tools, and then poprosi? Think about it: where archaeologists Orthodox end of the third Millennium will need to put our contemporary (which for the movement uses a vehicle, and is working at the computer), if tragic death finds him at the cottage at a fire with baked potatoes? Really - in the stone age?

But back to etti. So, the set of tools you can find some plausible explanation, but other details't at all mysterious. For example, the volume of the brain "ice man" - 1560 cm3, which, rather like a Neanderthal man than you and I (for Homo sapiens average volume of 1200 cm3, although known and larger sizes). The reasons for the size of the brain began to decrease, after having reached the highest level scientists still not clear. Neanderthal scientists believe and another peculiarity of ETSI: despite its age (age 46), it is still growing! The bones of the skeleton are not yet formed, that means that contrary to popular view is enormous, far exceeding modern life expectancy of people of that time!

And in the end note: ETSI found 14 years ago, and his research is still continuing...