Michael Wachtler

Michael Wachtler

Michael Wachtler (born 2 February 1959 in Innichen, South Tyrol) is an author and researcher from South-Tyrol.

Life

During his studies, he participated in numerous mountain expeditions. His interest was mainly aroused by crystals and fossils. In 1984, his teacher, Nolli Huber, fell during an excursion looking for crystals and lost his life. From 1980 to 1990, Wachtler founded various magazines in South Tyrol.

In 1990, Wachtler discovered the Voltzia dolomitica and the Voltzia ladinica in the Dolomites, two new species of primitive conifers which are a considerable evolutionary stage in the history of this group of trees. Both mark the passage of primitive coniferous trees to their modern day versions. He also focused his studies on the fossil remains of the Bjuvia dolomitica vegetable species, a primitive cycad which he described together with the Dutch scientist, Han van Konijnenburg - van Cittert.^[1]

During that period, he successfully published his first books and filmed his first, equally appreciated documentaries, especially the ones dealing with the life of crystal hunters in the Alps and the genesis of the Dolomites.

Villa Wachtler - Dolomythos

In 1999, Wachtler discovered the Fossillagerstätte Kühwiesenkopf, a deposit of fossils at the mountain Kühwiesenkopf in the Dolomites of Prags, classified as the ancient Garden of Eden as, following the great catastrophe during the Permian-Triassic period, during which over 90% of all living creatures became extinct, a variety of new plants, fish and land animals evolved in this area. Right there, in the same year, he found the skeleton of a small saurian which was given the name Megachirella wachtleri.^[2] According to National Geographic, it is the ancestor of snakes and lizards.

In 2005, Wachtler also discovered a primitive fern which he, Han van Konijnenburg - van Cittert and Evelyn Kustatscher named Gordonopteris lorigae in honour of both the Scottish researcher, Maria Ogilvie-Gordon, and the Italian researcher, Carmela Loriga-Broglio. Wachtler also organised exhibitions and developed ideas for museum projects. Together with Georg Kandutsch, a native of Carinthia, he built the first Treasure chests of nature, in other words, museums, the most famous of which is the Dolomythos. This museum, located in Michael Wachtler's house at Innichen, similar to a castle, illustrates the history of the Dolomites from its origins to the present day.

Works from 2003

Gold found in the Alps

Starting in 2003, Michael Wachtler published successful works about the First World War in the Dolomites. Focusing, however, increasingly more on issues of social criticism, in 2007 he published a work entitled Tirol-Saga, subtitled Historia eines mysteriösen Volken von Wilden. Von Raufbold Ötzis bitterem Ende bis zu den Helden der Schmerzen (History of a mysterious people of savages. From the sad end of the quarrelsome Ötzi to the heroes of pain).

Between 2003 and 2008, at Brusson in Val d’Aosta, together with Mario, Lino Pallaoro, Federico Morelli and Georg Kandutsch, Wachtler discovered gold several times, finds that are considered to be among the most significant of the modern age. In 2007, on Piz da Peres in Val Badia, he discovered primitive dinosaur footprints dating back 240 million years ago which he analysed together with Marco Avanzini and Rossana Todesco. Wachtler has also participated in various expeditions that have taken him to the Southern Seas, the Danakil Depression in Ethiopia, the Comoros and the Kamchatka peninsula.

Publications

• The First World War in the Alps. ATHESIA Spectrum, ISBN 88-6011-037-8
• Tirol-Saga. ATHESIA Spectrum, ISBN 978-88-6011-068-8 German
• Die Seele der Natur. ATHESIA Spectrum, ISBN 88-6011-038-6 German
• Die Geschichte der Dolomiten. ATHESIA Spectrum, ISBN 88-6011-012-2 German
• Felsenmenschen. Provinz, ISBN 88-881118-06-3 German
• Michael Wachtler - Günther Obwegs: Krieg in den Bergen. ATHESIA Spectrum, ISBN 88-87272-42-5 German
• Kristallwanderungen. Weise-München, ISBN 3-921656-72-3 German

References

1. ^ http://www.biologiezentrum.at/pdf_frei_remote/CAR_193_113_0449-0454.pdf
2. ^ http://www.naturmuseum.it/en/166.htm

External links

• Dolomythos - Michael Wachtler

Persondata
Name	Wachtler, Michael
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Date of birth	1959
Place of birth
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