5,000-Year-Old Arrow Emerges From Melting Ice in Norway

Archaeologists have uncovered 48 prehistoric arrows from melting mountain ice in Norway, including one estimated to be between 5,000 and 6,000 years old.

The discoveries were made during a three-week expedition in the Jotunheimen mountains, where archaeologists have been studying objects preserved in ice for more than two decades.

An Arrow Preserved for Thousands of Years

One of the most remarkable discoveries is a slate arrowhead found with part of its original wooden shaft. Researchers estimate that the arrow is between 5,000 and 6,000 years old, placing it in the Stone Age.

The frozen conditions helped preserve materials such as wood, leather and other organic remains that would normally disappear over time.

Dozens of Ancient Arrows Found

The archaeological team recovered 48 prehistoric arrows during this year’s fieldwork. The discoveries came from several mountain ice patches in the Jotunheimen region.

Some of the objects date back more than 2,000 years, while others come from the Bronze Age and Stone Age. The findings provide evidence of ancient hunting activity in the mountains, particularly hunting connected to reindeer.

The Ice Is Revealing Older Secrets

Researchers have noticed a change in the types of objects emerging from the ice. When the archaeological program began, most discoveries were less than 2,000 years old and many came from the Viking Age.

As older layers of ice disappear, increasingly ancient objects are being exposed. The newly discovered Stone Age arrows are among the oldest finds to emerge from these areas.

A Race Against Time

The melting ice is creating new opportunities for archaeologists, but it also presents a serious challenge. Once wooden shafts, leather and other organic materials are exposed to the air, they can deteriorate quickly.

Researchers therefore need to locate, document and preserve the artifacts soon after they emerge from the ice.

A Glimpse Into Ancient Mountain Life

Since 2006, the Secrets of the Ice archaeological program has recorded thousands of artifacts and dozens of archaeological sites in Norway’s mountains.

The objects recovered from the ice offer rare evidence of how people hunted, traveled and lived in the high mountains thousands of years ago.

Sources

• Smithsonian Magazine — “In an Exciting but ‘Brutal’ Find, a 5,000-Year-Old Arrow Emerges From Norway’s Rapidly Melting Mountain Ice” — October 1, 2026.
• Science Norway — “The oldest ice is disappearing: The Stone Age is emerging from the melting ice” — September 26, 2026.
• Secrets of the Ice — Glacial archaeology research in Innlandet, Norway.