Did he have his name written down on something?

Or is that what the people who dug him up thousands of years later decided to name him?

And how TF does he even have a fanbase?

Ötzi is a 5300-ish year old mummy, found in the Ötztal Alps in Italy (hence his name). While the earliest form of writing was emerging from Sumer at the time, Ötzi likely came from a civilisation with no writing system.

Ötzi has a fanbase because frankly he's absolutely fascinating. For a long time he was the oldest tattooed person ever discovered (in 2018 older Egyptian mummies were discovered), with 61 tattoos, a series of lines and crosses, primarily on his joints. These tattoos were likely an early form of acupuncture since he had worn joints that likely caused him pain.

The amount we've been able to study and understand about Ötzi is incredible, and he has offered us an incredible view of the European Copper Age. He was 45. He was 5"3. He was around 50kgs. We know what his final meal was, how he dressed, where he came from and how he travelled to the Ötztal region (through pollen in his lungs). We know he was involved in copper smelting (high levels of copper and arsenic in his hair). He could still have 19 descendants alive today. We know he was sick three times in the last six months before he died. We know he had whipworms. We know he was lactose intolerant.

We know he was murdered. Not killed by a stranger, or robbed. He was murdered by someone, and it was probably personal, and he did not know it was coming. He bled out, from an arrow to the back, and nobody helped him.

His last meal was elaborate. He was not on the run, or in a hurry to get away. He was not chased up those mountains. Where was he going? Why was he being followed? His body was not looted. He was a wealthy man, for his time. He had good quality clothes, shoes that people have reconstructed and hiked up the mountain in (and found surprisingly comfortable, apparently).

Weapons, too. He was found with a copper axe, a knife, arrows and an unfinished bow, baskets and medicines. These were all valuable possessions. People were not so rich back then that they could easily discard items like this- so why were they left to rot on the mountain with him? Was the fact they'd been touched by Ötzi really so repugnant to whoever was on that mountain?

There are at least 4 other people's blood on his gear. On the knife. On the arrows. The arrow that they shot him with was left in his back but the shaft was removed.

We know so much about Ötzi. We know everything about his finals hours- except for everything about Ötzi. We do not know who he was, we do not know his name, and we do not know why he was killed. His murderers stand in the shadows and will never come out into the light.

These are:

The Definitions of Woman and Man Amendment Bill.

Make a submission urging officials to reject the bill here.

This bill attempts to restrict the definitions of man and woman to "adult male human" and "adult female human". This has devastating implications on our queer community, and our safety. It also impacts those who can access abortions (potentially preventing children and teenagers from accessing abortions when they need it.) Instead, urge the Government to enshrine more protections for our intersex, transgender, and takatāpui communities.

The Conservation Bill.

Make a submission urging officials to reject the bill here.

This bill attempts to allow private sales of conservation land, potentially up to 60% of Aotearoa's conservation land would be available for private purchase. This will be devastating for our conservation efforts. Instead, urge for more protections of our conservation land.

Move On Orders Amendment Bill

Make a submission urging officials to reject the bill here.

This bill will allow persecution of unhoused and homeless people across Aotearoa. It allows the penalization of 'disorderly and disruptive behaviour', which includes: unreasonably obstructing entry to a trade or business, breaching the peace, begging, rough sleeping, or indicating an intent to inhabit a public place. This is a direct attack on vulnerable people, with the additional punishment of potential jail time and <$2000 fine. Instead, urge the government to fix the infrastructure perpetuating homelessness, such as lack of government housing and the cost of living crisis.