Bow

A long stave was found near the site of the find. It broke when it was pulled out. No one knew immediately what it was, but it turned out to be Ötzi’s bow. It was 1.80 metres long and was hewn from the trunk of a yew tree – a very hard wood.

The bow looks unfinished. It isn’t curved, there’s evidence of unfinished work, and it had no notches to attach the bowstring.

It may seem strange that the bow was 20 cm taller than the Iceman himself, but that’s exactly why he could shoot wild animals from a distance of 50 metres.