Glacier archaeology, a brief history

Culture on Monday, 3 March 25
Hotel Alpina Lodge, Tschiertschen, 8.00 p.m.

Glacier Archaeology, a Brief History, Dr. Thomas Reitmaier, Lecture

For decades, global warming has ensured that glaciers and ice surfaces in the Alps have melted in an almost unimaginable dimension and speed and have now almost disappeared in many places. This radical transformation of the mountains is accompanied by the fact that millennia-old objects, even people, sometimes emerge from the Alpine "icebox". The discovery of the 5300-year-old "Ötzi" in 1991 is the most famous example of glacier archaeology. In the last 20 years, in the Alps, but also in other parts of the world, some spectacular finds have been discovered in thawing ice or permafrost. The special value of these glacier archaeological sites lies in the fact that fragile organic materials have been preserved here for long periods of time. These not only provide archaeologists with fascinating insights into new living environments, but also innovative analyses and important environmental and climate data. However, the window of opportunity for glacier archaeology will close in the near future due to the accelerated disintegration of the ice. For this reason, measures have recently been intensified to save the endangered cultural heritage in the ice in good time. In addition to international cooperation, the information and participation of lay people remain central here.
Free admission, collection.