During the summer heatwave in 2003, the glacier on the Schnidejoch pass in the Bernese Oberland revealed a secret that had been kept for millennia: a Neolithic bow case made of birch cork (bark). It was a sensational find that remains unique to this day. By 2005, further parts of the bow equipment had been uncovered.

However, the case was returned straight back to the ice: it was kept in its frozen state for the time being, because little was known about how to dry birch cork. 20 years later, this could be successfully performed and the equipment belonging to “Schnidi”, the Swiss Ötzi, is now on show for the first time in its thawed and preserved state.