Nova Iceman Murder Mystery

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"Frozen for more than 5000 years, on a remote mountain pass, and now, preserved for the ages in a refrigerated tomb; he is the Iceman, a frozen relic from the Stone Age. The oldest human body ever found. He's a messenger from the past, bearing secrets of how humans lived nearly a 1000 years before the [Great] Pyramids [of Egypt]. He is also a homicide, waiting to be solved.

Who was he? And who shot an arrow into his back? Was it warfare? Or murder?

Now a rare and dangerous procedure [autopsy] leads to some startlingly fresh clues. A piece of bone, a copper axe, and a last meal surprise the experts, as they come closer to understanding our ancient past and to solving the Iceman murder mystery."

The above is said by the narrator at the beginning of this extraordinary documentary.

The mummy was found and pulled from a glacier Sept. 1991 in the Otztal Alps near the border between Austria and Italy. Thus, the Iceman is also known as "Otzi."

An autopsy was performed (including a DNA analysis) giving details of Otzi's death and life.

Throughout the program brief comments are made by an alpine archaeologist, radiologist, etc.

Near the end of the documentary, all the evidence that's found is considered leading to an unexpected conclusion of who killed Otzi.

Finally, the DVD itself (the one released in 2012) is perfect in picture and audio quality. There are no extras.

In conclusion, this is an exceptional documentary that may have solved the "world's oldest open case of homicide!!"

(2011; 55 min; wide screen; 6 scenes; PBS-NOVA/National Geographic)

<<Stephen Pletko, London, Ontario, Canada>>

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