Werther W., Varmuza K.*, Hayek E., Sauter F.,
Jordis U., Graf A.
Poster Presentation
The Tyrolean Iceman:
Origin of wood pitches
used as adhesives
on prehistoric
tools and weapons
In September 1991 a well conserved frozen mummy of a Late Neolithic man
has been discovered in a glacial field near the Austrian-Italian border. This
approximately five thousand year old Tyrolean
Iceman (nicknamed Ötzi because
found in the Ötztaler Alps) has been the subject of several studies [1, 2].
Together with the mummy several clothes, tools, and simple weapons were
discovered. Typical for prehistoric stone-made tools and weapons is pitch
(prepared by pyrolysis of wood or bark) used to glue the blades to their shafts
[3]. Aim of this work was to identify the species of tree, which was used in
prehistoric time to prepare this glue, by comparison with other relevant
archaeological samples and with model pitches prepared from various trees.
Archaeological and recent pitches have been characterized by the
relative concentrations of triterpenoids and related compounds measured by
GC/MS. A set of compounds exhibiting the highest variances have been selected
for multivariate data interpretation. PCA gave evidence that the Ötzi samples
are pitches produced from birch barks. PLS discriminant mapping and linear
discriminant classification confirmed this result and indicated the
triterpenoids responsible for the different types of trees.
The applied multivariate chemotaxonomic approach indicated a close
relationship between adhesive material from Ötzi´s tools with corresponding
materials that have been found in archaeological samples from Northern and
Central Europe.
[1] Spindler, K.; Wilfing, H.;
Rastbichler-Zissernig, E.; zur Nedden, D.; Nothdurfter, H. (eds.): Human mummies: a global survey of their
status and the techniques of conservation. Springer, Wien (1996).
[2] Höpfel, F.; Platzer, W.;
Spindler, K.: Der Mann im Eis, Band 1.
Veröffentlichungen der Universität Innsbruck, Bd. 187 (1992).
[3] Sauter, F.; Hayek, E.;
Moche, W.; Jordis, U.: Z. Naturforsch.
42c, 1152 (1987).