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.
The arrow is nearly complete, with its iron arrowhead, sinew binding, and wooden shaft all intact—only the fletching is missing, though there’s a faint imprint of it.
This find is part of the Glacier Archaeology Program, which has uncovered over 3,000 artifacts from melting ice patches in Innlandet. From hunting tools to clothing, these finds span 6,000 years of history, offering a frozen glimpse into the past.
