On 19 September 1991, a German mountaineering couple discovered one of the most important archaeological sensations of modern times: Ötzi, the 5,000-year-old glacier mummy.
His discovery site on the Tisenjoch, below the Similaun at an altitude of 3,210 metres, marks a milestone in research into the Neolithic period.
Thanks to the eternal ice, Ötzi's body has been exceptionally well preserved and provides valuable insights into the lives of our ancestors. The find proves that the Alpine passes were an important link between different cultures even back then.
Incidentally, Ötzi almost went down in history as an Austrian! The place where he was found is only 93 metres from the Italian-Austrian border. Today, a stone pyramid commemorates the discovery of this fascinating witness to the past.