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As glaciers and ice sheets recede at an astonishing pace worldwide, archaeologists and history enthusiasts reap an unexpected benefit—long-lost ancient artifacts emerge from their icy graves. Here are ten remarkable archaeological finds recently unearthed due to global warming and melting ice sheets across the globe.
10. Ancient Caribou Dung
A groundbreaking field of study known as ice patch archaeology is rapidly developing. Ice patches—permanently frozen expanses of snow and water found on the perpetually shaded sides of mountain ranges—have long concealed ancient artifacts, and in some cases, even prehistoric waste. During winter, these patches remain hidden beneath seasonal snow accumulation. However, in the summer, they reveal themselves as lingering icy pockets, preserving the past until the next freeze.
In 1997, hunters in Canada's Yukon Territories stumbled upon layers of ancient caribou dung, preserved between alternating deposits of ice and snow—like a prehistoric caribou dung Oreo. This discovery is invaluable to scientists, as the organic material holds clues about the animals' diets and their environment from thousands of years ago. Pollen spores, plant remnants, insects, and parasites provide insights into past ecosystems, while DNA analysis helps trace hereditary information and migratory patterns of the species.
One of the most astonishing finds within the dung was a 4,000-year-old dart shaft. Evidence suggests that ancient caribou hunters were well aware of the animals' seasonal behavior. During the scorching summer months, caribou sought refuge in the shaded, permanently frozen ice patches of mountain slopes. Hunters strategically capitalized on this, targeting the animals as they gathered in these icy sanctuaries.
9. Atlatl Dart
Ten thousand years ago, a hunter in what is now northern Canada aimed at a target—perhaps a caribou—using an advanced hunting weapon of the time: the atlatl dart. Whether they missed their mark or accidentally lost the weapon, the dart remained hidden in an ice patch for millennia. As it emerged from the melting ice, it offered scientists a rare window into the hunting technology of ancient North America.
The atlatl dart, used in Europe nearly 30,000 years ago, was also utilized by Native Americans as far back as 10,000 years ago. This ancient weapon system likely represents the first true combination of a projectile and a launching mechanism. The atlatl consists of a wooden handle, one end gripped by the hunter, with a notch or spur at the other. A 4-6 foot long (121–182 cm) dart would be placed in the spur. The atlatl allowed hunters to throw the dart farther, with greater power and accuracy than a spear. In North America, the atlatl predates the bow and arrow by around 8,000 years. The discovered dart, made of willow, bore markings indicating ownership and was adorned with feathers from birds of prey.
The discovery of the 10,000-year-old atlatl dart exemplifies the type of ancient artifacts that would have been destroyed if lost in a glacier but were preserved in the more stable, frozen environment of an ice patch.
8. Willow Bow
One of the early pioneers of ice patch archaeology, Tom Andrews, recognized the significance of melting ice patches and the priceless frozen artifacts that could be lost if not actively searched for. Unfortunately, ice patches are often located in the rugged and remote mountain ranges of Alaska and the Canadian Arctic. In 2000, Andrews managed to raise funds to purchase aerial photographs of the Mackenzie Mountains in Canada's Yukon Territory. After identifying several promising ice patches, he and his team embarked on an exploration by helicopter five years later. The findings not only highlighted the importance of ice patch archaeology but also enabled Andrews to secure additional funding. That year, they discovered several wood fragments in a melting ice patch, which were identified as parts of a fully intact 340-year-old willow hunting bow. “The artifacts are truly remarkable. The wooden arrows and dart shafts are so finely crafted that it’s hard to believe they were made with nothing but stone tools,” Andrews remarked.
7. Copper Arrowhead
Artifacts emerging from the melting ice reveal how Native American hunters utilized advanced technology to their advantage. One such example is an ancient barbed antler projectile, with serrated edges along the arrow shaft, resembling a primitive whaling harpoon. Once the arrow penetrated the prey, the backward-facing barbs made it nearly impossible to remove, much like a fish hook. But that wasn't the only sophisticated hunting technology these hunters employed. The same arrow was also fitted with a copper tip, crafted from a solid lump of copper. This intricate and effective killing tool was skillfully handcrafted by the hunter thousands of years ago, and preserved in the ice until the patch melted and revealed it.
6. Shelters
Not all artifacts uncovered from ice patches are related to hunting tools. One fascinating discovery was cut sections of wood from a willow tree, which were not intended for use in arrows, bows, or darts. These 1,500 to 2,000-year-old willow pieces show clear evidence of being cut by humans, but for what purpose, if not for hunting? Given that the ice patch where they were found is more than a kilometer above the nearest willow trees and well above the tree line, scientists speculate the wood was likely cut below the ice patch and transported up. Initially, it was thought that the wood was used as camouflage or cover for hunters. However, this theory seems unlikely, as such cover wouldn’t be necessary when hunting caribou in such concentrated areas. Scientists now believe the wood was part of early structures—lean-to shelters used by the hunters as they rested above the ice patch, waiting for their prey.
5. Birch Bark Basket
In 2003, another remarkable discovery was made—a non-hunting artifact that had been well-preserved by the ice. While walking along the edge of a melting ice patch, an archaeologist spotted something unusual. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a 650-year-old birch bark basket. Measuring approximately 2.3 inches (6 cm) in height with sloping edges and about 9.8 inches (25 cm) in width, the basket was carefully hand-stitched, with the stitching holes still clearly visible. Made of folded birch bark and reinforced with birch wood panels for the sidewalls, the basket likely served as a tool for gathering berries during the late spring and early summer months when the caribou hunters frequented the ice patches, between May and July. While no plant remains were found, its use for berry gathering seems probable.
4. Gopher Stick
In 2004, archaeologists uncovered a 30-inch (75 cm) long spruce stave from an ice patch. This ancient artifact featured a hook on one end and a point on the other. Recognizing it immediately, they identified it as a gopher stick, used by Native Americans to set snares for ground squirrels and gophers. The stick, which was 1,800 years old, was an ingenious tool that allowed hunters to place pre-made snares just below the ground at the entrance of burrows. The hooked end was pushed through the soil at the burrow’s entrance, holding the snare in place inside. Once set, the hunter would pull out the stick, leaving the snare’s loop inside the den. The other end of the snare line was anchored to a bent sapling, and when the rodent emerged, the snare would tighten, trapping it.
3. Long Ago Person
Around 1700, a young man, estimated to be between seventeen and twenty-two years old, was hunting in what is now British Columbia, Canada. Somehow, he fell into a glacier, where he remained frozen until 1999, when three hikers discovered his belongings along the face of a retreating glacier. Among the items they found were a walking stick, a fur, and a bone, leading them to believe it was an important find. When scientists were brought back, they discovered the man’s torso, left arm and hand, as well as parts of his lower body. He was later named Kwäday Dän Ts’ìnchi, which translates to 'long ago person' in the Southern Tutchone language.
Long Ago Person was found well-equipped for his hunting trip. He wore a robe made from ninety-five animal skins, primarily gopher and squirrel, stitched together with sinew. Inside the folds of his robe, scientists found fish scales, suggesting he might have carried a fish sandwich for lunch. Additionally, he carried a walking stick, an iron-blade knife, a spear thrower, and a wooden dart. Other finds included a leather pouch, a woven hat, and a personal medicine bag, which was considered sacred in Native American culture. The bag was so important that it was never opened by the scientists or the Native Americans involved in the discovery.
His DNA was compared with blood samples from 300 members of the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations. Seventeen of these individuals showed a close maternal match to Long Ago Man, indicating they were his descendants or relatives. Of those, fifteen belonged to the Wolf Clan, suggesting that Long Ago Person may have been a member of this clan. In 2001, Long Ago Person was cremated, and his ashes were returned to the glacier.
2. Schnidejochzi
Many people are familiar with Otzi, the famous Ice Man discovered in a melting glacier in the Italian Alps. He is one of the oldest and best-preserved human bodies ever found, along with his hunting tools and clothing. However, fewer know about Schnidejochzi. In fact, this name may be what is eventually given to a hunter if his body is ever found. Should his body emerge from the ice, like Otzi’s did, he may gain just as much fame, as he would be 1,000 years older than Otzi.
Recently, scientists uncovered over 300 artifacts from melting glaciers in the Schnidejoch mountain pass of the Swiss Alps. Among these items were tools that likely belonged to a hunter similar to Otzi, including a bow, arrows, arrow shafts, a 5.2-foot (1.6 meter) long birch bark container for hunting tools, and a pair of leather leggings and shoes. These leather items are among the oldest ever found in Europe. DNA analysis revealed the leggings were made from goatskin from a breed of goat not previously believed to have existed in Europe. Scientists are continuing their search, hoping to one day find the hunter, who would date back to 4,500 B.C., making him 1,000 years older than Otzi.
1. Viking Hunting Gear
Artifacts are being uncovered as ice masses around the world continue to melt and recede. In Juvfonna, Norway, archaeologists have found hunting tools made from reindeer remains, which they believe were used by Vikings. These relics are scattered along the edge of the retreating Juvfonna ice field. Scientists have referred to the glacier, which is shedding hundreds of artifacts, as a time capsule of history.
In Norse mythology, the Jotunheimen Mountains were the domain of ice giants. Now, scientists are uncovering tools used by these mythical giants. Among the finds are specialized hunting sticks for driving reindeer, bows and arrows, and fragments of leather shoes. These items date back as far as 3,400 years. Using GPS to track the locations of the artifacts, scientists have determined that the Vikings used the flapping wooden sticks, attached by string to their handles, to drive reindeer towards the hunters, standing about 6.5 feet (2 meters) apart. The noise from these sticks would have propelled the reindeer in the desired direction.
