Ötzi was fully clothed when he died. His clothing was damaged by wind and weather when the ice melted and was also badly affected by the unorthodox way in which his body was recovered.



His clothing was made solely from leather, hide and braided grass. It was stitched together with animal sinews, grass fibres and tree bast. No wool or woven textile was found. Unfortunately, there are no comparable items from Ötzi’s era, so we don’t know whether he was wearing traditional everyday wear or special clothing. In any case, Ötzi was well prepared for life in the wilderness. His garments, practical and functional, afforded protection from the cold and wet.



Restoration The Romano-Germanic Central Museum in Mainz, Germany was charged with restoring Ötzi’s clothing. Following their recovery, it was important to catalogue the numerous leather and hide fragments. The fragments were then preserved and pieced together.