In the winter of 1991, hikers in the Italian Alps came across the well preserved remains of a man who died there over five thousand years ago.
He became known as Utzi, the Iceman, and we have learned a great deal about this man, including what clothes he wore, where he lived, and what he ate.
Polypores
Uzi was well equipped with a backpack, flint axe, arrows and a string of dried Birch Polypores (Piptoporus betulinus), an attractive polypore, easily recognised by its habitat on birch wood. There is no stem, it grows straight out of the tree. At the top it’s beige to dark brown in colour and the underside is a beautiful pure white with a slightly scalloped edge.
If broken open when young, the flesh will be firm and white with a pleasant earthy smell but, as the fungus ages, it becomes tough and discoloured. It’s not poisonous to eat, but very tough. The Victorians used it as a razor-strop so you have an idea of its toughness. Before the invention of polystyrene, entymologists used to stuff packing cases with Piptoporus to keep their specimens safe.
This polypores can be used as tinder for starting fires and as medicine for treating wounds — or boiled into a rich tea with immuno-enhancing properties. Perhaps Uzi used birch polypores medicinally to stave off various internal worms as its antibiotic oils attack mycobacteria.
Uzi was well equipped for traversing the wilderness, aided by the noble polypores.