Otzi's the Hunter/Gatherers tools......5300 years ago !
[A bit of a long [incomplete] post, but hopefully interesting to some]
Out of a purely Survival, Outdoors or Bushcraft perspective , Otzi was remarkably well equipped for living off the land. Depending on which source you use,this following list of equipment that was find on/near Otzi's body will be +_ 95 % + the same.
Now , if we take the modern equivalent of Otzi's tools with us outdoors, there are a remarkable comparison on what he had with him,and what we would take in today's modern age, making Otzi a sort of a master Bushcrafter/Survivor 5300 years ago! The detailed practical tools are remarkable !
The following is a [draft ?] list of tools Otzi had with him with the possible [debatable?] modern equivalent for today.
Whatever the case may be,Otzi was well equipped for his environment all those 5300 years ago !
There may be more--this is just to start this interesting topic..
1]1.8 m Bow , 2 m spare string, quiver and 14 arrows
2] State of the art copper axe [high quality gransfors bruks?]
3]Flint belt knife [Full tang fixed blade on belt]
4]Skin scraper [Another different fixed blade?]
5]4 x Antler tips for skinning [Pocket knife ?]
6]3 x Small sharp cherts for cutting [Mulitool?]
7] Bone awl & senew for mending arrows/equipment [SAK?]
8]Retoucher for his various blades[ blade sharpener/stone?]
9]Borer [multitool/SAK?]
10]Birch tar [glue ?]
11] Leather belt with pouch for smaller items [ belt pouch]
12]Extra piece of tanned skin- to cut smaller string [Duct tape /
bank line or even maybe paracord?]
13] 2 different fire starter methods [Bic & Fero rod/matches?]
14]Stone disk with 12 strings to carry hunted birds by the neck
15]Soft moss [fire starter/toilet paper?]
16]Grass string mesh for catching birds etc [net ]
17]2 x Birch/polybare fungus on a string [antibiotics/first aid]
18]2 x Birch bark containers 18 cm x 20 cm [pot etc]
19]Small rations meat & seeds [On the go energy rations?]
20] 3 x layers of leather clothing
21] Good hiking shoes & grass socks.
22]Bear skin fur hat
23] Swamp grass cape/poncho
24]2 m x 40 cm backpack
25] Maybe extra 2 & 3 strand grass string/cordage and leather string ? [Damaged and we can not be sure after so many years]
What were not find on/near Otzi [that we would probably have today?] due to maybe Otzi's hectic last days on the move before his attackers murdered him with an arrow in the back , or maybe the type of terrain high up in the mountains or who knows why....?
[Another possibility-Maybe he lost it ?]
There may be more.......
1] Fishing kit
2] NO friction sticks for fire [he had another at least 2 x
'easier' methods of making a fire---even 5300 years ago--a very interesting talking point !]
3] No water bottle--maybe enough resources in the snow ??
4]Blanket/skin etc for the cold/cover [?] [Tarp ?]
5]Cooking pot
6] Maybe more string/rope etc?
We know that Otzi was wounded days before with a knife between his thumb and finger, which as a right handed person , made it nearly impossible to mend his kit.[thus the 12 unfinished arrows?]
The blood DNA of at least 4 x different humans were found on various of Otzi's blades/tools--maybe he defended himself very well against a group of attackers ?
He was find with his stone knife in / near his hand in a last ditch effort to fight off his attacker in the end.
The arrow in his shoulder cut an artery and he died soon afterwards.[age 45-47]
Speculation that the murderer was known and that's why the arrow shaft was pulled out [?] and NOTHING has been taken --all very valuable items during that time -especially that axe !
This list is by no means complete , but maybe just a good starting point to think about from the perspective of Bushcraft, Survival, Primitive Hunting and Outdoors ?
Enjoy the research/journey !
Otzi's tools, including the
(a) dagger,
(b) end scraper,
(c) borer,
(d, e) arrowheads and
(f) small flake,