Image: Secrets Of The Ice / Facebook.
Ancient artefacts are emerging from melting glaciers around the world.
From wooden tools and statues to human remains, these discoveries are drawing archaeologists to icy mountain regions every year.
Norway is leading the way in this growing field, known as glacial archaeology. With about 4,500 artefacts uncovered, the country accounts for more than half of the world’s finds in this area, according to Espen Finstad, co-leader of the Norwegian research project Secrets of the Ice.
Archaeologists are using these discoveries to learn about ancient trade and hunting routes that once crossed the glaciers. For thousands of years, people travelled across Norway’s glaciers to trade and hunt. Routes connecting the coast to inland areas date back to the Stone Age. “Some of these trade routes went over ice, which has helped preserve what people left behind,” Finstad told Business Insider.
Ancient Secrets and Objects Frozen in Time
For centuries, these objects remained frozen, but in recent decades, rising global temperatures have caused glaciers to melt, revealing what was hidden inside. During the summer of 2024, rapid melting led to a wave of new discoveries.
Finstad’s team, made up of about seven archaeologists, explored nearly a dozen sites. Among their most remarkable finds were two of the best-preserved arrows they had ever seen. One arrow was simply lying on top of the ice, fully intact. Usually, some digging is required, but this time, they just picked it up.
“It’s rare to find arrows in such good condition. It was like a gift,” Finstad said.
Arrows are commonly found in glaciers because reindeer hunting was a major activity during the Iron Age and medieval times. People hunted not only for their own food but also to sell meat in markets.
These arrows provide insight into past societies. Some arrowheads were made from river mussels that came from distant locations, showing just how far people travelled and traded.
Some prehistoric arrows discovered in 2024 were so well-preserved they still had fletching, the delicate feathers used for stabilization. Fletching usually decomposes over time, making these rare finds even more valuable.
With glaciers continuing to melt, archaeologists expect even more discoveries in the coming years.
