Until then, the frozen man in his refrigerator in Bolzano continues to speak, as new methods find new things to ask of him, and science continues to listen.

Why This Matters: The Meaning Beyond The Science

The scientific significance of Ötzi is clear enough: he is the most completely preserved and most comprehensively studied prehistoric human being in existence, providing detailed information about Copper Age anatomy, health, diet, technology, population genetics, and material culture that no other single find can match.

But the meaning of Ötzi goes beyond the science, and it is worth articulating that meaning directly.

He is a reminder that the past was inhabited by people.