Archaeologists discover 1,500-year-old reindeer trap and other artifacts ‘melting out of the ice’ in Norway’s mountains
High in Norway’s icy mountains, archaeologists have discovered a unique 1,500-year-old reindeer trap and several mysterious wooden objects, including a decorated boat oar that appears out of place 4,600 feet (1,400 meters) above sea level.
“These are objects we would never find in ordinary excavations, including a pine oar and a deer antler clothes pin,” Leif Inge Astveitarchaeologist at the University Museum in Bergen, said in a statement from the Vestland County Municipality. “The pin is shaped like a miniature axe: truly exceptional finds.”
“A 1,500-year-old mass trapping installation, made of wooden branches that literally melts before our eyes, is probably unique in the Norwegian and European context,” Åstveit said.
The team also found a significant number of reindeer antlers near the trapping facility. All bore cut marks, suggesting the animals had been trapped, killed and potentially treated on site.
In addition to the trap, archaeologists have recovered numerous artifacts believed to be directly related to hunting, including iron spears, wooden arrows and three bows. The findings also included a delicate brooch made of deer antler and shaped like a miniature ax, which may have been accidentally dropped by a hunter during the kill, according to the release.
But archaeologists are baffled by the intricately carved wooden oar they found. Further study in coming years could help clarify why the oar was transported into the mountains.
Experts believe the reindeer trapping site was preserved thanks to the start of a cooling period in the mid-6th century. Cold temperatures may have led to increased snow and ice, causing hunters to abandon the site. The exceptional preservation of the woods suggests that the hunting center was buried under snow and ice shortly after its abandonment, according to the release.
“This discovery opens the way to entirely new interpretations and understanding of how these facilities work,” Åstveit said. “The exceptionally well-preserved wood and timber materials will contribute significantly to research in the years to come.”
Global warming is contributing to the re-emergence of ice-covered sites like this, according to the release. A similar site with reindeer hunting weapons and blinds was discovered in the Norwegian mountains in 2022. Nordic archaeologists also recently recovered 1,300-year-old wooden skisA Viking horse bridle and a 1,700 year old leather sandal melting glaciers.
