Archaeologists in Norway's mountains have discovered a remarkably preserved 1,500-year-old reindeer trap, uniquely constructed from piled wooden branches. This site, located at 4,600 feet above sea level, also yielded other artifacts, including spears, arrows, bows, reindeer antlers showing cut marks, and a unique antler pin shaped like a miniature axe.
A surprising find was a decorated wooden boat oar, its purpose at such an altitude currently unexplained. Experts believe the site was preserved by a cooling period in the mid-sixth century, which led to increased snowfall and ice, causing the hunting facility to be abandoned and subsequently buried.
This rapid burial by snow and ice is credited for the exceptional preservation of organic materials like antlers and wood. Global warming is now causing these ice-covered sites to reemerge.
