Melting glaciers reveal ancient artefacts in Norway's Lendbreen glacier
Global warming is melting more glaciers, revealing buried treasures within. As Newsweek reported, some of these "gems" have been discovered in Norway, specifically in the Lendbreen Glacier.
Melting glaciers have long intrigued scientists. These colossal structures are not only vivid proof of ongoing climate change, but they can also conceal valuable items for study. For instance, the Corbassière Glacier in the Swiss Alps recently revealed unique artefacts, including a wooden figurine from the 1st-2nd century BCE.
A trade route once ran here. now scientists are searching for "treasures"
A similar situation is unfolding in Norway, near the Lendbreen Glacier, which recedes further each year. Historical trade routes in the area have revealed numerous items in almost pristine condition, thanks to the low temperatures and limited exposure to oxygen and light.
However, it's crucial to note that artefacts emerging as the glacier melts are not as well-preserved. When exposed to moisture and light, these items, often thousands of years old, deteriorate rapidly.
An arrow in excellent condition
What treasures have surfaced from the Norwegian glacier? According to Newsweek, one notable find from Lendbreen is a well-preserved arrow, complete with its tip. Scientists estimate the age of this artefact to be around 1300 years. Additionally, fragments of fabric from the Viking Age (8th to 11th century), along with hunting tools, have been retrieved. The glacier also revealed a tooth likely belonging to a horse used for transportation by local inhabitants.
– The arrow in question is incredibly well-preserved, even by ice find standards. It was discovered lying on the ice, suggesting that melting has reached previously untouched layers. Thus, the arrow had probably remained encased in ice since it was lost 1300 years ago, quite literally frozen in time – explained Lars Holger Pilø, an archaeologist involved in the discovery, as quoted by Newsweek.
Researchers add that more arrows with similar age, determined through radiocarbon dating, have been found around Lendbreen. However, none are as well-preserved as the one that garnered the most attention from archaeologists. Pilø notes that researchers are continually monitoring the site in Norway, conducting searches in nearly 70 locations. To date, they have uncovered as many as four thousand archaeological finds from the ice.
