The Ice Maiden lived in a world of visual richness.

Her tent, her clothing, her horse equipment, her personal ornaments — all of it would have been elaborately decorated with the images of her culture’s symbolic world.

The tattoos on her skin were the most personal and permanent expression of this world.

What Happened To Her After Discovery

The Ice Maiden’s story did not end when Polosmak’s team removed her from the permafrost in 1993.

What happened to her in the subsequent decades is a story in itself — a story of scientific study, political controversy, community conflict, and eventually a form of return.