Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t8hqh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T00:00:44.197Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Evidence for Early Human Presence at High Altitudes in the Ötztal Alps (Austria/Italy)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 July 2016

Walter Kutschera ,
Gernot Patzelt ,
Eva Maria Wild ,
Barbara Haas-Jettmar ,
Werner Kofler ,
Andreas Lippert ,
Klaus Oeggl ,
Edwin Pak ,
Alfred Priller  and
Peter Steier
...Show all authors
Walter Kutschera*
Affiliation:
University of Vienna, Faculty of Physics, Vienna Environmental Research Accelerator (VERA) Laboratory, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
Gernot Patzelt
Affiliation:
Patscher Strasse 20, A-6080 Innsbruck-Igls, Austria
Eva Maria Wild
Affiliation:
University of Vienna, Faculty of Physics, Vienna Environmental Research Accelerator (VERA) Laboratory, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
Barbara Haas-Jettmar
Affiliation:
University of Vienna, Faculty of Physics, Vienna Environmental Research Accelerator (VERA) Laboratory, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
Werner Kofler
Affiliation:
University of Innsbruck, Institute of Botany, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Andreas Lippert
Affiliation:
University of Vienna, Institute of Prehistoric and Historical Archaeology, A-1190 Vienna, Austria
Klaus Oeggl
Affiliation:
University of Innsbruck, Institute of Botany, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Edwin Pak
Affiliation:
University of Vienna, Faculty of Physics, Vienna Environmental Research Accelerator (VERA) Laboratory, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
Alfred Priller
Affiliation:
University of Vienna, Faculty of Physics, Vienna Environmental Research Accelerator (VERA) Laboratory, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
Peter Steier
Affiliation:
University of Vienna, Faculty of Physics, Vienna Environmental Research Accelerator (VERA) Laboratory, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
Notburga Wahlmüller-Oeggl
Affiliation:
University of Innsbruck, Institute of Botany, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Alexander Zanesco
Affiliation:
University of Innsbruck, Institute of Archaeologies, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
*
2. Corresponding author. Email: [email protected].
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The present article reports on the results and interpretation of a total of 235 radiocarbon dates from Alpine sites in the Ötztal region. Out of these, 88 age determinations were performed on equipment and artifacts associated with the Neolithic Iceman (discovered in 1991), and on a variety of plant and animal specimens collected at his discovery site. Since the material was dispersed over a larger area, 14C dates were important to establish the deposition time of the respective samples. About half of the samples fall into the time period where the Iceman lived, documenting synchronous deposition, whereas the others spread out over several thousand years before and after his lifetime. The other set of samples (147) were collected along the Ötztal Valley to the north, with a few samples collected also south of the Alpine watershed. The samples were mainly from soil profiles and peat bogs above the present-day timberline. Overall, the analysis of the data indicates human presence in these high regions of the Alps throughout the Holocene. While the older botanical and archaeological finds indicate activities of hunting and foraging, the younger ones (after ∼5000 BC) point to an intensification of pasturing. This suggests that early human activity was concentrated at altitudes where natural pastures were found, which were probably more favorable than locations at the bottom of the valleys where flooding and other hazards existed. Early users may have come from south of the water divide spreading into the northern regions, particularly during the summer season. It is possible that the Iceman perished at one of his crossings over the probably well-known high-altitude mountain pass due to reasons not yet fully resolved.

Type
Articles
Information
Radiocarbon , Volume 56 , Issue 3 , 2014 , pp. 923 - 947
Copyright
Copyright © 2014 by the Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of the University of Arizona 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Acs, P, Wilhalm, T, Oeggl, K. 2005. Remains of grasses found with the Neolithic Iceman “Ötzi.” Vegetation History and Archaeobotany 14:198–206.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bagolini, B, Pedrotti, A. 1992. Vorgeschichtliche Höhenfunde im Trentino-Südtirol und im Dolomitenraum vom Spätpaläolithikum bis zu den Anfängen der Metallurgie. In: Höpfel, F, Platzer, W, Spindler, K, editors. Der Mann im Eis, Band 1. Bericht über das international Symposium 1992 in Innsbruck. Veröffentlichungen der Universität Innsbruck 187. p 359–77.Google Scholar
Bagolini, B, Dal Ri, L, Lippert, A, Nothdurfter, H. 1995. Der Mann im Eis: Die Fundbergung 1992 am Tisenjoch, Gem. Schnals, Südtirol. In: Spindler, K, Rastbichler-Zissernig, E, Wilfing, H, zur Nedden, D, Nothdurfter, H, editors. Der Mann im Eis – Neue Funde und Ergebnisse. The Man in the Ice, Volume 2. Vienna: Springer Verlag. p 3–22.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Baroni, C, Orombelli, G. 1996. The Alpine “Iceman” and Holocene climatic change. Quaternary Research 46(1):78–83.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bonani, G, Ivy, S, Niklaus, TR, Suter, M, Housley, RA, Bronk, CR, van Klinken, GJ, Hedges, REM. 1992. Altersbestimmung von Milligrammproben der Ötztaler Gletscherleiche mit der Beschleuniger-Massenspektrometrie-Methode (AMS). In: Höpfel, F, Platzer, W, Spindler, K, editors. Der Mann im Eis, Band 1. Bericht über das International Symposium 1992 in Innsbruck. Veröffentlichungen der Universität Innsbruck 187. p 108–16.Google Scholar
Bonani, G, Ivy, SD, Hajdas, I, Niklaus, TR, Suter, M. 1994. AMS 14C age determinations of tissue, bone and grass samples from the Ötztal Iceman. Radiocarbon 36(2):247–50.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bortenschlager, S. 1984. Beiträge zur Vegetationsgeschichte Tirols: Inneres Ötztal und unteres Inntal. Berichte des naturwissenschaftlich-medizinischen Vereins Innsbruck 71:19–56.Google Scholar
Bortenschlager, S. 2000. The Iceman's environment. In: Bortenschlager, S, Oeggl, K, editors. The Iceman and His Natural Environment. Paleobotanical Results. The Man in the Ice, Volume 4. Vienna: Springer Verlag. p 11–27.Google Scholar
Bortenschlager, S, Oeggl, K, editors. 2000. The Man in the Ice – The Iceman and His Natural Environment. Paleobotanical Results. The Man in the Ice, Volume 4. Vienna: Springer Verlag. p 1–166.Google Scholar
Bronk Ramsey, C. 2001. Development of the radiocarbon calibration program. Radiocarbon 43(2A):355–63.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bronk Ramsey, C. 2009. Bayesian analysis of radiocarbon dates. Radiocarbon 51(1):357–60.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Diaz, HF, Trigo, R, Hughes, MK, Mann, ME, Xoplaki, E, Barriopedro, D. 2011. Spatial and temporal characteristics of climate in medieval times revisited. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 92(11):1487–500.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dickson, JH, Bortenschlager, S, Oeggl, K, Porley, R, McMullen, A. 1996. Mosses and the Tyrolean Iceman's southern provenance. Proceedings of the Royal Society London B 263:567–71.Google Scholar
Dickson, JH, Oeggl, K, Handley, LL. May 2003. The Iceman reconsidered. Scientific American 288:70–9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ermini, L, Olivieri, C, Rizzi, E, Corti, G, Bonnal, R, Soares, P, Luciani, S, Marota, I, De Bellis, G, Richards, MB, Rollo, F. 2008. Complete mitochondrial genome sequence of the Tyrolean Iceman. Current Biology 18(21):1687–93.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fedele, GG. 1981. Il popolamento delle Alpi nel Paleolitico. Le Science 160:22–39.Google Scholar
Festi, D, Putzer, A, Oeggl, K. 2013. Mid and late Holocene land-use changes in the Ötztal Alps, territory of the Neolithic Iceman “Ötzi.” Quaternary International, in press, http://dx.doi.Org/10.1016/j.quaint.2013.07.052.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fowler, B. 2000. Iceman – Uncovering the Life and Times of a Prehistoric Man Found in an Alpine Glacier. New York: Random House.Google Scholar
Grosjean, M, Suter, PJ, Trachsel, M, Wanner, H. 2007. Ice-borne prehistoric finds in the Swiss Alps reflect Holocene glacier fluctuations. Journal of Quaternary Science 22(3):203–7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Guilderson, TP, Reimer, PJ, Brown, TA. 2005. The boon and bane of radiocarbon dating. Science 307(5708):362–4.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hafner, A. 2012. Archaeological discoveries on Schnidejoch and other ice sites in the European Alps. Arctic 65(Supplement 1):189–202.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hedges, REM, Housley, RA, Bronk, CR, van Klinken, GJ. 1992. Radiocarbon dates from the Oxford AMS system: Archaeometry datelist 15. Archaeometry 34(2):337–57.Google Scholar
Heiss, AG, Oeggl, K. 2009. The plant macro-remains from the Iceman site (Tisenjoch, Italian-Austrian border, Eastern Alps): new results on the glacier mummy's environment. Vegetation History and Archaeobotany 18(1):23–35.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Heuberger, H. 1975. Das Ötztal, Tirol. Ein geographischer Exkursionsführer. Innsbrucker Geographische Studien 2:213–49.Google Scholar
Holden, C. 2008. More “Ötzis” in the Alps? Science 321(5895):1425.Google Scholar
Höpfel, F, Platzer, W, Spindler, K, editors. 1992. Der Mann im Eis, Band 1 . Bericht über das International Symposium 1992 in Innsbruck. Veröffentlichungen der Universität Innsbruck 187.Google Scholar
Ivy-Ochs, S, Heuberger, H, Kubik, PW, Kerschner, H, Bonani, G, Frank, M, Schlüchter, C. 1998. The age of the Köfels event – relative, 14C and cosmogenic isotope dating of an early Holocene landslide in the Central Alps (Tyrol, Austria). Zeitschrift für Gletscherkunde und Glazialgeologie 34:57–68.Google Scholar
Ivy-Ochs, S, Kerschner, H, Reuther, A, Preusser, F, Heine, K, Maisch, M, Kubik, PW, Schlüchter, C. 2008. Chronology of the last glacial cycle in the European Alps. Journal of Quaternary Science 23(6–7):559–73.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ivy-Ochs, S, Kerschner, H, Maisch, M, Christl, M, Kubik, PW, Schlüchter, C. 2009. Latest Pleistocene and Holocene glacier variations in the European Alps. Quaternary Science Reviews 28(21–22):2137–49.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jettmar, B. 2003. Radiocarbon dating at the discovery site of the Iceman “Ötzi” [unpublished Diploma thesis]. Faculty of Physics, University of Vienna. p 1–106.Google Scholar
Keller, A, Graefen, A, Ball, M, Matzas, M, Boisguerin, V, Maixner, F, Leidinger, P, Backes, C, Khairat, R, Forster, M, Stade, B, Franke, A, Mayer, J, Spangler, J, McLaughlin, S, Shah, M, Lee, C, Harkins, TT, Sartori, A, Moreno-Estrada, A, Henn, B, Sikora, M, Semino, O, Chiaroni, J, Rootsi, S, Myres, NM, Cabrera, VM, Underhill, PA, Bustamante, CD, Egarter Vigl, E, Samadelli, M, Cipollini, G, Haas, J, Katus, H, O'Connor, BD, Carlson, MRJ, Meder, B, Blin, N, Meese, E, Pusch, CM, Zink, A. 2012. New insights into the Tyrolean Iceman's origin and phenotype as inferred by whole-genome sequencing. Nature Communications 3:698, doi:10.1038/ncomms1701.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kutschera, W, Müller, W. 2003. “Isotope language” of the Alpine Iceman investigated with AMS and MS. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B 204:705–19.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kutschera, W, Golser, R, Priller, A, Rom, W, Steier, P, Wild, EM, Arnold, M, Tisnérat-Laborde, N, Possnert, G, Bortenschlager, S, Oeggl, K. 2000. Radiocarbon dating of equipment from the Iceman. In: Bortenschlager, S, Oeggl, K, editors. The Iceman and His Natural Environment. Paleobotanical Results. The Man in the Ice, Volume 4. Vienna: Springer Verlag. p 1–9.Google Scholar
Leitner, W. 1999. Archäologische Forschungen in den Alpen. Die Gletschermumie aus der Kupferzeit. Schriften des Südtiroler Archäologiemuseums 1:69–79.Google Scholar
Lippert, A. 1992. Die erste archäologische Nachuntersuchung am Tisenjoch. In: Höpfel, F, Platzer, W, Spindler, K, editors. Der Mann im Eis, Band 1. Bericht über das International Symposium 1992 in Innsbruck. Veröffentlichungen der Universität Innsbruck 187. p 245–52.Google Scholar
Lippert, A, Gostner, P, Egarter-Vigl, E, Pertner, P. 2007. Vom Leben und Sterben des Ötztaler Gletschermannes. Germania 85:1–21.Google Scholar
Magny, M, Haas, JN. 2004. A major widespread climatic change around 5300 cal. yr BP at the time of the Alpine Iceman. Journal of Quaternary Science 19(5):423–30.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mahlknecht, M. 2005. Der Alpine Brandopferplatz am Grubensee im Maineid-Tal. Schlern 79(4):4–21.Google Scholar
Mann, ME, Zhang, Z, Rutherford, S, Bradley, RS, Hughes, MK, Shindell, D, Ammann, C, Faluvegi, G, Ni, F. 2009. Global signatures and dynamical origins of the Little Ice Age and Medieval Climate Anomaly. Science 326(5957):1256–60.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Müller, W, Fricke, H, Halliday, AN, McCulloch, MT, Wartho, J-A. 2003. Origin and migration of the Alpine Iceman. Science 302(5646):862–6.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Nerlich, AG, Peschl, O, Egarter-Vigl, E. 2009. New evidence for Ötzi's final trauma. Intensive Care Medicine 35(6):1138–9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Nicolussi, K, Patzelt, G. 2000. Discovery of Early-Holocene wood and peat on the forefield of the Pasterze Glacier, Eastern Alps, Austria. The Holocene 10(2):191–9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nicolussi, K, Patzelt, G. 2001. Untersuchungen zur holozänen Gletscherentwicklung von Pasterze und Gepatschferner (Ostalpen). Zeitschrifi für Gletscherkunde und Glazialgeologie 36:1–87.Google Scholar
Nothegger, B. 1997. Palynologische Untersuchungen zur Ermittlung von Waldgrenz- und Klimaschwankungen in den Ostalpen anhand der Profile Schönwies und Rotmoos [unpublished Diplomarbeit an der Naturwissenschaftlichen]. Fakultät der Universität Innsbruck. 54 p.Google Scholar
Oeggl, K, Schmidl, A, Kofler, W. 2009. Origin and seasonality of subfossil caprine dung from the discovery site of the Iceman (Eastern Alps). Vegetation History and Archaeobotany 18(1):37–46.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Paterlini, M. 2011. The Iceman defrosted. Nature 471(7336):34–5.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Patzelt, G. 2000. Natürliche und anthropogene Umweltveränderungen im Holozän der Alpen. Rundgespräche der Kommission für Ökologie der Bayerischen Akademie der Wissenschaften. Band 18 Entwicklung der Umwelt seit der letzten Eiszeit. München: Verlag F. Pfeil. p 119–25.Google Scholar
Pernter, P, Gostner, P, Egarter-Vigl, E, Rühli, FJ. 2007. Radiologic proof for the Iceman's cause of death (ca. 5300 BP). Journal of Archaeological Science 34(11):1784–6.Google Scholar
Prinoth-Fornwagner, R, Niklaus, TR. 1994. The man in the ice: results from radiocarbon dating. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B 92(1–4):282–90.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rastbichler Zissernig, E. 2006. Der Mann im Eis. Die Fundgeschichte. Innsbruck: Innsbruck University Press.Google Scholar
Reimer, PJ, Bard, E, Bayliss, A, Beck, JW, Blackwell, PG, Bronk Ramsey, C, Buck, CE, Cheng, H, Edwards, RL, Friedrich, M, Grootes, PM, Guilderson, TP, Hafidason, H, Hajdas, I, Hatté, C, Heaton, TJ, Hoffmann, DL, Hogg, AG, Hughen, KA, Kaiser, KF, Kromer, B, Manning, SW, Niu, M, Reimer, RW, Richards, DA, Scott, EM, Southon, JR, Staff, RA, Turney, CSM, van der Plicht, J. 2013. IntCal13 and Marine 13 radiocarbon age calibration curves 0–50,000 years cal BP. Radiocarbon 55(4):1869–87.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reitmaier, Th, Lambers, K, Walser, Ch, Zingman, I, Haas, JN, Dietre, B, Reide, D, Hajdas, I, Nicolussi, K, Kathrein, Y, Naef, L, Kaiser, Th. 2013. Alpine Archäologie in der Sivretta. as. Archäologie Schweiz Basel 36:4–15.Google Scholar
Rollo, F, Luciani, S, Marota, I, Olivieri, C, Ermini, L. 2007. Persistence and decay of the intestinal microbiota's DNA in glacier mummies from the Alps. Journal of Archaeological Science 34(8):1294–305.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rom, W, Golser, R, Kutschera, W, Priller, A, Steier, P, Wild, EM. 1999. AMS 14C dating of equipment from the Iceman and of spruce logs from the prehistoric salt mines of Hallstatt. Radiocarbon 41(2):183–97.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ruff, CB, Holt, BM, Sládek, V, Berner, M, Murphy, WA Jr, zur Nedden, D, Seidler, H, Recheis, W. 2006. Body size, body proportion, and mobility in the Tyrolean “Iceman.” Journal of Human Evolution 51(1):91–101.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Salzer, MW, Bunn, AG, Graham, NE, Hughes, MK. 2014. Five millennia of paleotemperature from tree-rings in the Great Basin, USA. Climate Dynamics 42(5–6):1517–26.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schäfer, D. 1998. Zum Untersuchungsstand auf dem altmesolithischen Fundplatz vom Ullafelsen im Fotschertal (Stubaier Alpen). Germania 76(2):439–96.Google Scholar
Schäfer, D. 1999. Untersuchungen zur mesolithischen Begehung in Tirol. In: PAESE, 97 Prehistoric Alpine Environment Society and Economy. International Colloquium Zurich. 1997. Universitätsforschungen zur prähistorischen Archäologie Bonn 55:37–46.Google Scholar
Schäfer, D, editor. 2011. Das Mesolithikum-Projekt Ullafels (Teil 1). Innsbruck: Verlag Philipp von Zabern.Google Scholar
Spindler, K. 1993. Der Mann im Eis. Die Ötztaler Mumie verrät die Geheimnisse der Steinzeit. München: C. Bertelsmann Verlag.Google Scholar
Spindler, K, Wilfing, H, Rastbichler-Zissernig, E, zur Nedden, D, Nothdurfter, H, editors. 1995. Neue Funde und Ergebnisse. The Man in the Ice, Volume 2. Vienna: Springer Verlag.Google Scholar
Spindler, K, Wilfing, H, Rastbichler-Zissernig, E, zur Nedden, D, Nothdurfter, H, editors. 1996. Human Mummies. The Man in the Ice, Volume 3. Vienna: Springer Verlag.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Steier, P, Dellinger, F, Kutschera, W, Priller, A, Rom, W, Wild, EM. 2004. Pushing the precision limit of 14C AMS. Radiocarbon 46(1):5–16.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stuiver, M, Polach, HA. 1977. Discussion: reporting of 14C data. Radiocarbon 19(3):355–63.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tschisner, Chr. 1998. Palynologische Untersuchungen zur holozänen Waldgrenz- und Klimaentwicklung im Ötztal anhand der Profile „Rofenmoos” und „Moor am Rofenberg” [unpublished Diplomarbeit]. University of Innsbruck.Google Scholar
Vanzetti, A, Vidale, M, Gallinaro, M, Frayer, DW, Bondioli, L. 2010. The Iceman as a burial. Antiquity 84(325):681–92.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vorren, K-D, Morkved, B, Bortenschlager, S. 1993. Human impact on the Holocene forest line in the Central Alps. Vegetation History and Archaeobotany 2(3):145–56.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Weihrich, J, Bortenschlager, S. 1980. Beiträge zur Vegetationsgeschichte Tirols III. Stubaier Alpen – Zillertaler Alpen. Berichte des naturwissenschaftlich-medizinischen Vereins Innsbruck 67:7–30.Google Scholar
Wild, EM, Neugebauer-Maresch, C, Einwögerer, T, Stadler, P, Steier, P, Brock, F. 2008. 14C dating of the Upper Paleolithic site at Krems-Hundsteig in Lower Austria. Radiocarbon 50(1):1–10.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zanesco, A. 2006. Fundbericht: KG Sölden, OG Sölden, VB Imst. Fundberichte aus Österreich (Hsg. Bundesdenkmalamt Wien) 24:627–9.Google Scholar
Zink, A, Graefen, A, Oeggl, K, Dickson, J, Leitner, W, Kaufmann, G, Fleckinger, A, Gostner, P, Egarter-Vigl, E. 2011. The Iceman is not a burial: reply to Vanzetti et al. (2010). Antiquity 85:328 (http://www.antiquity.ac.uk/projgall/zink328/).Google Scholar