5,000-year-old arrow emerges as Norway’s melting mountain ice reveals older archaeological finds
Researchers have recovered 48 prehistoric arrows from melting mountain ice in the Jotunheimen mountains of Norway. The disappearing ice is exposing ancient relics dating back thousands of years, including a 5,000-year-old slate arrowhead found with parts of its shaft and rare discoveries reaching 6,000 years old. Glacial archaeologists working with Secrets of the Ice note that finds from the Viking Age are becoming scarce as even older Stone Age artefacts emerge from the rapidly changing environment.
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- ✓ Researchers at the Glacier Archaeology Program recovered 48 prehistoric arrows from melting mountain ice in Jotunheimen, Norway.
- ✓ A 5,000-year-old arrowhead made of slate was found together with parts of its shaft right at the edge of the ice.
- ✓ Stone Age artifacts up to 6,000 years old are now emerging from the melting ice as Viking Age finds become scarce.
What changed
Glacial archaeologists recovered 48 prehistoric arrows, including rare 5,000-year-old and 6,000-year-old relics, from melting mountain ice in Norway.
Live updates
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Stone Age Arrows Emerge From Melting Mountain Ice in Norway
Researchers have recovered 48 prehistoric arrows from melting mountain ice in the Jotunheimen mountains of Norway. The disappearing ice is exposing ancient relics dating back thousands of years, including a 5,000-year-old slate arrowhead found with parts of its shaft and rare discoveries reaching 6,000 years old. Glacial archaeologists working with Secrets of the Ice note that finds from the Viking Age are becoming scarce as even older Stone Age artefacts emerge from the rapidly changing environment.
Why it matters
Mountain ice patches in western Scandinavia preserve organic remains and ancient hunting equipment left by prehistoric travelers. As global temperatures cause the oldest ice to disappear, artifacts frozen for millennia are exposed to the elements. Archaeologists are racing against time to recover and preserve these rare items before they decay.
What is confirmed
- Researchers at the Glacier Archaeology Program recovered 48 prehistoric arrows from melting mountain ice in Jotunheimen, Norway.
- A 5,000-year-old arrowhead made of slate was found together with parts of its shaft right at the edge of the ice.
- Stone Age artifacts up to 6,000 years old are now emerging from the melting ice as Viking Age finds become scarce.
What to watch next
- Further discoveries of ancient artifacts as ice patches continue to melt
- Updates from the Glacier Archaeology Program and Secrets of the Ice on artifact preservation efforts
confidence 100%Sources used for this update (11)
- Archaeology News Online Magazine — 5,000-year-old arrow emerges as Norway’s melting mountain ice reveals older archaeological finds
- HeritageDaily — Prehistoric traces found frozen in Norway’s Jotunheimen mountains
- ScienceNorway — The oldest ice is disappearing: The Stone Age is emerging from the melting ice
- The Debrief — Hidden in Ice for Millennia, a 6,000-Year-Old Discovery Has Emerged from Western Scandinavia’s Once-Frozen Landscape
- inkorr.com — Ancient Arrows Unearthed in Norway’s Jotunheim Mountains Include a 6,000-Year-Old Relic
- economictimes.indiatimes.com — Norway melting ice: Norway’s melting ice is revealing 6,000 ...
- www.sciencenorway.no — 6,000-year-old Stone Age arrows emerge from melting ice in Norway
- www.yahoo.com — Archaeologists Unearth ‘Rare’ 5,000-Year-Old Arrowheads in ...
- www.anothershadows.com — ANOTHERSHADOW: 5,000-Year-Old Arrowhead Emerges From ...
- www.europesays.com — 6,000-year-old Stone Age arrows emerge from melting ice in Norway
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