Discovery of Ancient Reindeer Traps in Norway
Recently, archaeologists made a remarkable discovery in Norway – ancient reindeer traps and tools dating back 1,500 years. This find, revealed by the Västrand County Municipality on November 10, took place on the Aurlandsferret Plateau in the Sogn region, a rather isolated area in western Norway. The Bergen University Museum and local archaeologists collaborated to document this intriguing site.
The investigation began when a climber stumbled upon a wooden log emerging from melting ice and notified the authorities.
The team uncovered hundreds of logs and two fences built from wooden stakes, which were identified as a hunting facility for reindeer. In addition, they discovered iron spearheads, arrow shafts, parts of bows, wooden spears, and an impressive collection of well-preserved reindeer antlers.
Leif Inge Ostveit, an archaeologist involved in the project, expressed surprise at the find. He explained in an interview that while stone traps were known to exist in Norway’s mountains, the all-wooden construction of this facility was completely unexpected.
He noted that constructing something like this would have been no small feat. “Thousands of logs weighing several tons were likely carried up into the mountains,” he remarked.
Designed to lure reindeer into a confined space, the trap’s fencing extended significantly into the funnel, which was about 300 feet wide. Ostveit elaborated, saying that as the animals were funneled toward the enclosure, their initial calm would shift to panic as they sensed their shrinking space.
“The antlers are incredibly well-preserved and still carry a reindeer scent after 1,500 years,” Ostveit said.
As the reindeer drew closer to the enclosure, the fencing would have become increasingly constricting, making escape impossible. Ostveit described that eventually, the animals would be herded into a sluice-like feature and extracted one by one.
Interestingly, the semiconductor spear found at the site was used to aid this process. Researchers also noted a pile of discarded antlers, predominantly from younger reindeer and females, with larger antlers presumably repurposed into combs or pins.
Remarkably, even after a millennium and a half, the antlers still resembled their original scent. “They were clustered near the capture area, and almost all showed clear cut marks, indicating they were likely severed from their skulls with an axe,” Ostveit noted.
Strangely, though, no bones or remains have surfaced, which suggests that this facility was specialized for processing and transporting the reindeer.
A standout discovery was a decorated pine oar, a find that Ostveit described as a “major revelation.” Its presence in this area, some 1,400 meters from the nearest known rowing boat, raises questions about its purpose.
“This discovery is so rare that it was named ‘discovery of the year’ at the annual archaeological conference in Norway,” Ostveit stated.
He speculated it could have been part of a guiding barrier, noting the decorative aspects suggested that the users likely valued artistic expression. Additionally, there was an axe-shaped clothespin fashioned from antlers, a unique item that had never been found in Norway before, further adding to the site’s significance.
Looking ahead, Ostveit mentioned that future efforts at the site wouldn’t follow conventional excavation methods. Rather, it would involve monitoring what gradually appears as the ice continues to melt.
This specific discovery has opened new avenues for research at the University of Bergen. Ostveit emphasized the potential for emerging scientific methods to uncover new information about various aspects of Early Iron Age society.
