Ötzi’s Ancient Axe Is from Tuscany, Giving Firm Evidence of Neolithic Travel and Trade

Scientists have officially verified that copper used to make Otzi the Iceman’s axe blade did not come from the Alpine region as was initially suggested, but instead it came from southern Tuscany in Italy.

It’s no secret that from the day Ötzi the Iceman – a 5,300-year-old well-preserved mummy – was discovered in the Austrian Alps on 19th September 1991, he has not ceased to fascinate scientists from all over the world. No other corpse has been more thoroughly investigated and that’s a plain fact. As the Archaeology News Network recently reported, it’s now officially verified that the copper axe that was discovered alongside other items next to the Iceman did not come from the Alpine region as had initially been supposed, but instead it came from southern Tuscany in Italy. The chemical examination was conducted at the University of Padua using a very small sample of material recovered from the blade, along with isotope analysis in collaboration with the University of Berne. Read more.