Glaciers around the world are melting, uncovering ancient artifacts that baffle archaeology

Glaciers around the world are melting, releasing mysterious and fascinating artifacts. From ancient human remains to strange wooden tools and statues, these objects draw archaeologists to the icy mountains every year.

In Norway, glacier archaeologists have already discovered more than 4,500 artifacts as they are primarily looking for evidence of ancient industries, as well as sections of trade routes across the glacier.

Since the Stone Age, ancient hunting, travel and trade routes have crossed the mountains between the Norwegian coast and the interior. “We are lucky that some of these trade routes went through the ice,” said Finstad, one of the archaeologists on the expedition.

The artifacts have been frozen in ice for centuries

Global temperatures have been rising in recent years as a result of humans using fossil fuels to generate energy. This has produced gases that trap heat in the atmosphere, causing many glaciers to melt, revealing ancient artifacts that had been preserved inside for centuries. Some of the rudimentary objects found in the Norwegian glacier include gloves, whisks, hunting arrows and wooden stakes.

The Lendbreen icefield is the most productive location for archaeologists to visit. “There are a lot of treasures there in the ice,” Finstad said. Lendbreen was a popular travel route during the Viking Age and the Middle Ages and is one of the busiest locations for archaeologists every year.

Rudimentary tools offer clues to the past

Some of the arrowheads discovered have been made from river mussels at the tips, indicating that the arrow bearers came from far away with other arrows were unearthed with feathers, which was surprising, given that feathers are delicate and do not usually last thousands of years. “They are all small things, everyday objects from the Viking era or earlier, which cannot be found in other archaeological contexts, at least in Norway, because they have disappeared,” Finstad said.

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