The Man From Hauslabjoch

(September 23, 1991) The mummified remains of a body discovered in the Ötzal Alps on September 19th has been identified as being of prehistoric origin. Scientists at the Institut für Anatomie in Vienna estimate that the remains are of a man who died some 5,000 years ago and are perhaps the single most important European archaeological find of the century.

There was a storm coming. Lufa, with the instinct of his people who had lived for many generations in the mountain country, could tell from the smell in the air, the wisps of white clouds and the sudden stillness. He should have left a day earlier.

He had had to wait longer than usual that summer for the pass to clear. Other than that, the trek down from the mountain valley had been uneventful. It had taken only eight days. It would take more than twice that long to return home. All in all, however, he was satisfied. He had decided to make the journey alone, instead of allowing the same group of young men who had accompanied him last year to come along.

They had caused trouble-though it had not been entirely their fault. The lowlanders produced some kind of drink that made a pleasant muddle of the mind, but there had been too much drinking that final day. There had been anger and unpleasant words. So this year he had come on a peace mission. The copper axe he was taking back was a precious item. And then there were shells, and special mushrooms, and many other items the mountain people would never receive unless they maintained friendly relations with these distant neighbors.

And the lowlanders benefited in return. Fine goatskins, and bits of precious amber that worked its way down the trade routes from the tribes in the far north. Lufa had reason to be satisfied as the first flakes of the storm drifted down from the ridges above him.

It took a day in the shelter of an overhanging rock to convince him that this was no ordinary storm. To try to fight it and continue was hopeless. He would have to wait it out. Pulling his cloak around him and curling up in his shelter, he decided that sleep was the best choice. He would need all of his energy to work his way through the snow. As he drifted off, he thought with satisfaction at what he had accomplished. There would no longer be any quarrelling between his people and the lowlanders. Perhaps when he arrived back in his mountain valley his people would call him "Peacemaker."

(January 16, 1998) Today, Austrian terrorists threatened Italian scientists who arrived in Vienna to move the mummified body of the famous Ice Man of the Alps to Italy. The dispute that began after the discovery of the 5000-year old remains is still raging between Austrian and Italian officials concerning ownership of the valuable find.