Customer Reviews

Iceman: Uncovering the Life and Times of a Prehistoric Man Found in an Alpine Glacier

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Since Konrad Spindler's book "The Man in the Ice" (1996) has been shown to be more flight of fancy than fact-based reconstruction, those interested in this subject have been awaiting the scientific revelations the Iceman's well-preserved corpse undoubtedly embodies (pun intended). Although I found Fowler's journalistic narrative both well-written and interesting for its behind-the-scenes peek into the events following the sensational discovery of this 5,300-year-old mummy, I found the subtitle misleading, and the book, ultimately, disappointing.

Though not an archaeologist by profession, I am deeply interested in the subject and count myself among thousands of well-educated laypeople eager to share in the discoveries of our more formally qualified brethren. Both the promise of the book's subtitle ("Uncovering the Life and Times of a Prehistoric Man...") and its recent publication date had me thinking that Fowler would be presenting the very latest findings and drawing on these to create a vibrant portrait of daily life in Alpine Europe during the Copper Age.

Alas, Fowler is first and foremost a journalist, not a prehistorian. This is evident throughout her work, as she insistently focuses on the political maneuvering and interpersonal politics between the various scientists and institutions involved in research on the Iceman, almost to the point of ignoring what we have learned about him and the world in which he lived. The paucity of illustrations is another strike against the book. What few there are, are blurry b/w photos and a handful of line drawings. Any reader hungry for insight into what this man's life might have been like is sure to come away unsatisfied.

Still, what Fowler does have to say is of interest, if only for revealing the petty infighting and blunders that have overshadowed what little research has been done on the Iceman.

I originally bought the book hoping to learn something about the enigmatic, prehistoric mummy found by hikers in the Alps during the early 90s. When I started reading the book, I realized that it possessed a very chatty, narrative style not usually characteristic of the professional archaeologist and looked at the vita of the author. Seeing that Ms Fowler was a journalist, I rather clenched my teeth and prepared for a "readable" account of an archaeological discovery by an interested amateur. Much to my surprise, I found it a very skillfully written and researched expose on how not to do scientific research!! The story of Otzi the Iceman is a parable of our times. Science, enshrined in most of our minds as a clinical, abstract, and apolitical method of thinking and problem solving, is in fact a human activity. As such it is encumbered with all of the frailties attendant upon that condition. The Iceman reveals the political, professional, financial and personal pitfalls that a rare and unusual find of this type create for the individuals involved in its discovery, its preservation, its study and its display. The unfortunate man himself was probably never the focus of this much media and public attention in his entire lifetime. Certainly after his discovery none of the lives of those involved with his mortal remains would be the same again. The drama of the discovery is the center of Fowler's work, which questions the degree to which scientists as people can really be as divorced from the realities and pressures of life and as neutral in their perspectives as the discipline in theory demands. It certainly points out that there are differences in quality among various scientists, and that their personal motives can not be entirely ignored in evaluating the work they do. The book also points out the value of open communication between individual researchers and of peer review. It will be interesting to see if the discoverers of the Andean mummy, Jaunita, who are also mentioned in the book, will have learned from the mistakes of their predecessors.

Brenda Fowler's Iceman takes the reader on a beautifully described journey into the Austrian and Italian Alps where hikers unwittingly discover what could be, what SHOULD be, one of the most interesting sociological and scientific finds to date -- the 5300 year old mummified corpse of a man. Fowler is able to shed intriguing if glaring light on the unsavory combination of ego, politics, money and science. She gives readers an intimate portrait of the behind the scenes struggle to find a balance between preserving this historic find and uncovering meaningful information about him. Iceman reads more like a suspense novel than scientific text book and is captivating from page one. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in a great story.

Truth be told, the story of the Iceman (and the scientists surrounding his gradual unveiling to the world) would be hard to make uninteresting. That being said, the author does an excellent job of constructing the story, making the timeline (mostly) crystal clear and keeping the suspense level high.

Main criticisms, occasionally the narrative seemed to get stuck in then he did this, then she did this structure. And the timeline got confused and jumpy near the end. These are minor complaints.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in prehistory or science fiction. Anyone who likes a good story. etc. etc.

The book is focused on the politics of science, the fighting among interested parties, and what surrounds academic interests rather than the finding itself, which is rather a background. It is written like a novel, including many irrelevant details of two or more years past, that the Author obviously assumes. It is well written, reads easily and pleasantly, and contains a long bibliography of scarce interest to the general reader. No references to internet websites. Pictures are very poor. Mostly of the scientists and other people involved. They have very little interest, and none in color. Wery few graphics or ilustrations. I would recommend the book if you want to know the hidden story around the iceman and the glory and misery of science. Search the internet if you want to see it. Or do both.

Iceman, by Brenda Fowler, is one of the most interesting, well written books I have read in a long while. It takes an already fascinating subject and, through excellent research and skillful writing, weaves an even more fascinating look into the world in which science, egos, and a need for research money forms an unholy alliance. The finding of the 5300 year old mummy in the Alps is only the beginning..not the end of this story. The author made me feel such a wide range of emotions about this find and the way the once in a lifetime chance for knowledge was handled that I did not want the book to end. I just hope she has an "Iceman 2" planned. I will be first in line to buy it!

A marvelous blend of scientific journalism and detective novel, Iceman takes us on an investigative spree to the Tyrolean alps where the frozen corpse of a 5,300-year-old man was unexpectedly found in 1991. Surrounded by controversies--national, scientific, touristic and financial--the Iceman promised to open up new vistas of our understanding of human life in prehistoric times. He also promised to bring fame and wealth to those who could claim him as their own, whether through the accidents of discovery or geography, or through the accomplishments of scientific research that would decode the secrets hidden within his well-preserved body, clothing and tools. Following the progress of members of the international research team dedicated to preserving and studying the Iceman, Fowler lays bare the rather scandalously unscientific manner in which much of the research was (or wasn't) coordinated and explanatory hypotheses proposed. The suspense builds as she leads us from one dashed theory to the next, finally arriving at the research and hypotheses she finds most plausible to date. Both the science and the accounts of the scientists--few of whom come off in a very good light--are presented clearly and intelligently in a well-researched, often humorous and always compelling narrative. Highly recommended!

Brenda Fowler's training as a journalist pays a handsome reward in this thoroughly-researched and well-written account of Ötzi's discovery on September 21, 1991, his well-intentioned but badly flawed recovery, and his archaeological importance, as well as the academic, political, legal, and financial intrigue (almost always petty) taking place behind the scenes.

For eight years, Fowler interviewed everyone involved with Ötzi to uncover the truth about the sometimes misreported and confusing "facts" published in the media. She also has taken a discerning look at the various personalities involved: from the austere Konrad Spindler (who became the main spokesperson concerning Ötzi--and the main recipient of the financial rewards) to the Simons (who first found the body and later wanted to be paid for their discovery) to Klaus Oeggl, a young German botanist, whose brilliant studies of Ötzi countered Spindler's own (fairly unscientific) theory.

Her hard work clearly shows: this is as much an archaeological mystery (set both in the Copper Age and the modern scientific world) as it is a record of the facts and speculations about an archaeological wonder named Ötzi. I highly recommend this book. You won't stop turning the pages--and when you're done. you'll want to go visit Ötzi at his Bolzano, Italy home.

Eleven chapters, a prologue and epilogue, as well as detailed notes, a lengthy bibliography, and a thorough index. 313 pages, with 33 black and white photo plates inserted in the center of the book. The photos show Ötzi, his accessories, and many of the personalities described in the book. These are not National Geographic quality photos, but that's not the point of Fowler's book. You won't go wrong by reading it.

One of those rare books whose author recognizes that science doesn't occur in a vacuum. In "Iceman," a vivid description of the science behind Otzi is expertly interwoven with the political posturing that makes this such an engaging tale. I'm eagerly looking forward to Brenda Fowler's next book.

Otzi, the frozen cadaver now residing in a museum in Bolzano, Italy, was discovered by hikers in the glacial ice of the Tyrolean Alps, in 1991. He'd been there a long time - roughly 5300 years - undisturbed until global warming revealed his presence to the curious. The discovery has been of enormous value to archaeologists, since in addition to his well-preserved male corpse, Otzi's clothes, shoes, and "tool kit" has provided a wealth of info about bronze-age inhabitants of the region.

Note, please, that I specified the "Tirolean" Alps. I've had the privilege of living in Merano, in the Italian "occupied zone" of Tyrol, where the dialect called Romansch is in fact an ancient German. Austria and Italy have quarreled over the Tyrol since the Renaissance, and the current disposition of the border is a result of pan-European meddling, from the Sudtiroler's point of view. This quarrel was revivified by the exglaciation of Otzi; the squabble over the precise location of his discovery and the ultimate possession of his remains is one of the chief subjects of this journalistic book. The second focus of the book is the melee that took place between archaeologists over the right to study Otzi and his effects. That's not entirely a pretty story, but hey! scientists are human and have careers to foster. General analysis of what Otzi has to "say" about his life and times forms a distant third topic. I'd have preferred more of the latter, but the book would have been unmarketably brief.

I carried this book in a dry-bag in my kayak on an expedition into the glacial fiords of Patagonia. As it turned out, I had only a few minutes per day to read before darkness, so I had to finish it on an airplane. It wouldn't have blended well with my thoughts while kayaking anyway, thoughts which were centered on Otzi and his fate rather than on any contemporary human business. "Ice is nice, and would suffice" said Robert Frost. Wouldn't it be an elegant fate to be entombed in ice for the hikers of 7300 AD to discover? Suicide by glacier! A typical Swede, I hate to be tended. I could willingly wait until 7300 AD to have anyone meddle with my body.

Such were my thoughts at moments, gaping up at the glaciers of Torres del Payne, but these thoughts were whisked aside by the blue-haired beauty of the ice. Fortunately I also had three iPods along, loaded with Bach, Monteverdi, and Ockeghem. If Otzi had been so equipped, he might also have been determined to live longer.