On September 19, 1991, while hiking in the Ötztal Valley in the Austrian Alps, German hikers Erika and Helmut Simon stumbled upon what they initially thought was the body of a recently deceased mountain climber. However, it turned out that this was a remarkably preserved mummy, later named Ötzi, which had been encased in ice for over 5,300 years. The mummy was surrounded by various artifacts, including a bow and a quiver containing arrows, a copper-bladed axe, a flint dagger with a wicker sheath, birch wood vessels lined with maple leaves, remnants of a backpack, a leather pouch holding small items, and clothing and shoes made from fur and leather, among other minor items. Researchers analyzing Ötzi concluded that he likely met a violent end due to an arrowhead found lodged in his left shoulder and other injuries on his body, suggesting he was the victim of murder.