Frozen for centuries, bizarre artifacts emerge from Norway’s melting glaciers!

As glaciers around the world melt at an accelerating rate due to climate change, they are uncovering long-lost artifacts, offering invaluable glimpses into human history. In Norway, a country at the forefront of glacial archaeology, researchers are making groundbreaking discoveries that reveal ancient industries and trade networks spanning from the Stone Age to the medieval era.
Espen Finstad and his team at Secrets of the Ice have led Norwegian archaeologists in the discovery of an incredible 4,500 artefacts from glaciers that have melted. These finds include textiles, tools, weapons, and other artefacts that reveal details about how humans lived, travelled, and traded over a period of thousands of years. Since Norway has produced more than half of the world's glacial archaeological discoveries, the nation has emerged as a vital centre for historical research.
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The Lendbreen ice patch, a popular route for travel throughout the Viking and mediaeval periods, is one of the most fruitful locations for these findings. Archaeologists visit this location annually, where new artefacts are constantly being discovered by melting ice. Two immaculate arrows, one of which was just resting on the ice and didn't need to be excavated, were among the best-preserved artefacts the crew had ever discovered when a rapid melt in the summer of 2024 revealed them.

Arrows are among the most frequently discovered artifacts, as reindeer hunting was a major industry during the Iron Age and medieval period. However, some arrowheads have been found to be made from river mussels that must have originated far from Norway. Such findings provide evidence of extensive trade routes and long-distance interactions between ancient communities.
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Various other artifacts, including mittens, wooden tools, and mysterious leather and textile items, add to the intrigue of Norway's history. Without the ice's preservative properties, many of these objects would have decayed long ago.

Glacier melting is a concerning effect of climate change, but it also offers archaeologists a special chance. The team's 2024 efforts were ultimately cut short by heavy snow, but they are excited to go back the following summer with a better understanding of where to concentrate their search.
As Norway’s glaciers continue to recede, archaeologists anticipate more extraordinary discoveries, each one shedding new light on the ancient travelers who once crossed these icy landscapes.