What are the issues relating to the custodianship and ownership of the Iceman and the ethics involved in displaying his human remains?

The ownership and custodianship of Ötzi varies, for many reasons.

Photo courtesy here.

When Ötzi was found, the real political question between Italy and Austria was, "In which country was Ötzi found?"

This simple, yet consequential question was successfully answered when authorities confirmed Ötzi was actually found on the Italian side, in an attempt to resolve the bitter dispute over the ownership of the Iceman's historically crucial preserved body. However, instead of rectifying all confusions, this answer led to more questionings over the custodianship of Ötzi.

Questions such as "Was Ötzi a pre-Italian man travelling to what is now Austria, or was he a pre-Austrian man travelling to Italy?" arose, and eventually other scientific research and investigation confirmed Ötzi to be an Italian man who was born in an Italian village of Feldthurns (also known as Velturno) which is north of present day Bolzano.

Though these questions had been disputed over then answered and resolved, other questions of the ethical issues involving the dead body of a human still remain.

This video states the DNA based claims by scientists and how Ötzi is actually not related to people from the Alps, where he was originally found, outbreaking more arguments and revision of how we perceive history on human migration,

Photo courtesy here.

Ötzi is currently on display in a built facility entrusted to the supervision of the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology in Bolzano. He has special atmospheric conditions available to him to stop the decaying or damaging of his body; with the controlled temperature, humidity and a nitrogen rich atmosphere, and he can be seen through a window by the museum visitors.

Some may argue that it is wrong to display or investigate human remains, especially of ancient bodies. In the scientific world, such examinations are crucial for the advancement of science and the broadening of our knowledge on human civilisation and history, but it is usually the religious or ethical beliefs of some people which cause them to reject the displaying of human remains.

These people reason that the remains of the ancient bodies were once alive and breathing like any other human on earth, and they deserve the same amount of respect after death and should be ritually buried. Nonetheless, various secular-minded people would insist that from the time period in which these bodies belong to, they did not practice Christianity, and were most likely pagan, so religious ethical issues should be ruled out because at the time of their death, religious morals (of the modern day) would not have applied. All the same, this justification leads to the allowed investigation and experiments of human remains.

Moreover, most people tend to think that as long as the body of the dead isn't being mistreated or disrespected, it is alright to conduct scientific research.

With these reasonings, many still argue over this sensitive topic, upholding their personal beliefs on the dead from the past.