Welcome!

Welcome to Trondheim and to the Frozen Pasts Symposium hosted by the

Department of Archaeology and Religious Studies at NTNU.
The key aim of Frozen Pasts is to gather together researchers and managers
from both archaeology and other disciplines in a forum where results and
observations, problems and solutions from many regions can be shared and
discussed.
In this booklet you will find a host of information related to the meeting
including some practical details, the main programme, abstracts of the papers
and posters presented and a list of the participants taking part. The booklet
also contains information about the two excursions that conclude the
meeting. Here, we have included some maps and tables that might prove
useful during the excursions.
We hope that this meeting will prove both stimulating and fruitful for all and
that you will enjoy your stay with us here in Central Norway.

Frozen Pasts- Main Programme

Monday 4th October

19:00-21:00

Registration

Tuesday 5th October

07:00-08:00

Registration

08:00-12:30

Morning Sessions

12:30-13:30

Lunch

13:30-18:00

Afternoon Sessions

20:30-

Wine Reception/Exhibition

Wednesday 6th October

08:00-12:30

Morning Sessions

12:30-13:30

Lunch

13:30-17:30

Afternoon Sessions

17:30-

Plenum

20:30-

Conference Dinner

Thursday 7th October

Excursion 1 (Trondheim-stfjella-Vang-Oppdal-Trondheim)
08:00

Departure Trondheim

18:30

Departure Oppdal

20:00

Arrive Trondheim

Friday 8th October

Excursion 2 (Oppdal-Brattfonna-Oppdal-Trondheim)
08:30

Departure Oppdal

18:30

Departure Oppdal

20.00

Arrive Oppdal

Frozen Pasts- Practical details

Contact Information
The main conference venue is the Quality Hotel Augustin where conference staff will be
present at all times.
Quality Hotel Augustin, Kongensgate 26, 7011 Trondheim. Reception: +47 73 54 70 00
Conference hosts from NTNU will also be present at all other arrangements during
Frozen Pasts. The organisers can be contacted on the following numbers:
Martin Callanan: +47 400 66 99 5
Birgitte Moe Rolandsen: + 47 95 75 65 79
Dept. of Archaeology & Rel. Science, NTNU: +47 72596580

Time and Place

Check in for the symposium takes place in the foyer of the Quality Hotel
Augustine. Checking in can be completed either between 7-9pm on Monday 4th
October or between 7-8 am on Tuesday 5th October.
The wine reception on Tuesday 5th begins at 830pm and will take place at
Suhmhuset, which is part of the Museums complex by Elvegate 6.
In parallel with the conference, the NTNU Museum of Natural History and
Archaeology is arranging an exhibition of parts of the snow patch collection
housed in Trondheim. The exhibition is called Secrets of the Snow Patches and
will be on display during the wine reception on Tuesday evening.
The conference dinner will take place at the same venue from 830pm on
Wednesday 6th.
The meeting point for excursion 1 on Thursday 7th is the bus stop behind the
theatre in Erling Skakkes gt. The bus leaves at 8am.

Suhmhuset

Meeting Point EX.1

Quality Hotel Augustin

Dixon, E. K. & Callanan, M.

Solli, B.

08:30-09:00

09:00-09:30

Finstad, E. & Pil, L.

12:00-12:30

17:30-18:00

17:00-17:30

15:00-15:30
15:30-16:00
16:00-16:30
16:30-17:00

Skinner, L.

Hafner, A.
Stadler, H.
Nicolis, F., Bassi C.,
Cappellozza N., Vicenzi M.

Ceruti, M.C.

12:30-13:30
13:30-18:00 SESSION 2
Session Leader: Craig Lee
Champagne and Aishihik
13:30-14:00 First Nations, Strand, D., Joe,
L., Greer S. & Mackie, A.
14:00-14:30
Dickson, J.H.
14:30-15:00
Sjvold, T.

Wangen, V. & Solli, B.

11:30-12:00

09:30-10:15
10:15-12:30 SESSION 1
Session Leader: Albert Hafner
10:15-11:00 Callanan, M. & Farbregd, O.
11:00-11:30
Ryd, Y.

Heidi Srensen State

Secretary of the Norwegian
Ministry of the Environment

OPENING SESSION

08:10-08:30

08:00-08:10

08:00-09:30

Archaeological excavation and artefact conservation at Captain Scotts hut in Antarctica

Archaeology of the First World War in glacial environments of the central eastern Alps

Lenk, Schnidejoch-Archaeological Surveys and Excavations 2004-2010

Glacier archaeology in Tirol, Austria. Possibilities and Problems of Frozen Pasts

Coffee Break

Permafrost, Glaciers and Inca Ice Mummies in Argentina

What Mosses tell us about Ancient Glacier Mummies, especially tzi, the Iceman
Was the Iceman Buried?

Considering the Social Context of a Frozen Past Discovery: The Kwdy Dn Tsnch Find from Northern British
Columbia, Canada

Lunch

Ice Patch Archaeology in Oppland, Norway. 2010 update

Artefacts Coming out of Ice- and Snow Patches in High-Alpine Areas in South Norway

Scratching at the Backdoor-Perspectives, Trends and Dates from the Central Norwegian Snow Patches
Reindeer, Summer and Snow- Saami hunting with Bow and Arrow

Coffee Break

Some Reflections on Archaeology and Heritage in the Anthropocene

Frozen Pasts- Warm Futures

Climate change and cultural heritage

Opening and Introduction

Frozen Pasts- Tuesday 5th October 2010

Frozen Pasts- Paper Abstracts- Tuesday 5th October

Frozen Pasts-Warm Futures

Dixon, E. J.1 & Callanan, M.2
1
2

University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Dept. of Archaeology and Religious Studies, NTNU, Trondheim, Norway

Corresponding author contact details: jdixon@unm.edu & callanan@hf.ntnu.no

During the Frozen Pasts symposium, 30 papers will be presented for over 70 participants
over two days. The papers and posters reflect the emerging themes, geographic extent and
diverse range of discoveries related to frozen archaeological contexts and finds. This
paper presents an initial overview of some central questions such as: What is Glacial
Archaeology? Is it unique? How is it relevant to the larger discipline of archaeology and
related sciences? What are its future directions? Our intention is to highlight the themes
and issues that will characterize the Frozen Pasts meeting in Trondheim.

Some Reflections on Archaeology and Heritage in the

Anthropocene
Solli, B.
Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo, Norway

Corresponding author contact details: brit.solli@khm.uio.no

Are we now living in a new geological epoch called the Anthropocene? Geo-scientists
discuss whether there is a need for a new concept covering the last 250 years colossal
human impact on the Earth. How are we going understand and define heritage and
archaeology in a rapidly changing global environment? The linguistic turn in humanities
and social sciences has had a huge impact on both archaeology and heritage studies since
ca 1980. The paper discusses the legacy of the linguistic turn, post-processualism, and
environmental archaeology. Furthermore, a critique is raised against the anti-essentialist

view that heritage is constructed, not discovered. Three trajectories for the future
combining the most valuable legacy of post-processual and environmental archaeology
are suggested.

Scratching at the Backdoor- Perspectives, Trends and Dates

from the Central Norwegian Snow Patches
Callanan, M.1 & Farbregd, O.2
1

Dept. of Archaeology and Religious Studies, NTNU, Trondheim, Norway

2

Museum of Natural History and Archaeology, Trondheim, Norway

Corresponding author contact details: callanan@hf.ntnu.no

The collection of archaeological finds recovered from Central Norwegian snow patches
housed in Trondheim, now consists of over 180 individual artefacts from at least 20
different sites in 3 counties.
Snow patch hunting is but one of many manifestations of a long term relationship with
mountain landscapes and resources in Norways prehistory.
Earlier snow patch research from Trondheim has demonstrated how long-term
developments in archery and crossbow technology can be discerned from within this
material. The majority of snow patch finds from the region can be dated to the period
between 400AD - c. 1700AD. However in recent years there are indications that
increasingly older finds are now appearing regularly on alpine patches. In this paper we
present the cultural historical backdrop against which snow patch hunting is understood.
Some new C14 dates from a number of atypical artefacts recovered in recent years are
presented. These developments are discussed against the backdrop of earlier find-waves
and more recent surveys of alpine snow patches in the region.

Reindeer, Summer and Snow

- Saami Hunting with Bow & Arrow
Ryd, Y.
Author & honorary doctor. Jokkmokk, Sweden.

Corresponding author contact details: yngve.ryd@telia.com

There are main two parasites that harass reindeer during the summer, sjlvtj
(Hypoderma tarandi) and snuhpaga (Cehpenemyia trompe). In mountain areas, reindeer
protect themselves by running to jassa, snow patches. This offers little protection against
snuhpaga who are quite resistant to the cold. During the summer, apparently without any
reason reindeer can be seen to suddenly dash around snow patches when the snuhpaga are
attacking them. This insectss ability to fly very rapidly is well known. In contrast,
sjlvtj cannot fly in the cold air over snow patches, so here the reindeer are well
protected from them.
Reindeer are scared of sjlvtj and this has been to the advantage of wild reindeer
hunters. Snow patch hunting works best on small patches, preferably under 100m in
diameter. Reindeer are able to hear the insects humming beyond the borders of the snow
patch and are unwilling to leave the snow. Therefore the hunter can go near the flock, to
within shooting range for the bow, openly and clearly visible but very slowly. On larger
patches this approach is more difficult. On glaciers it is most difficult as they are so large
that reindeer can easily flee from the hunters whilst still remaining on the snow.
In Northern Sweden, the bow was still being used by some Saami down until the end of
the 1800s. It was free to practice-shoot and therefore possible to become very proficient
in bow-shooting. Powder and shot on the other hand, were expensive and this prohibited
practice-shooting.
This paper is based on both written and oral sources. The written sources are from the
1600s until today. My most important oral source is retired reindeer herder Ola Omma
who is now 88 years old. He grew up in the far north of Sweden where small populations
of wild reindeer remained until the end of the 1800s. He recalls the stories of older

hunters in great detail and has a wealth of information with regard to the summer hunting
of reindeer with bows, information which cannot be found in the written sources. His
recollections also often touch upon the same themes as the written sources and it is
fascinating to view the similarities between the old texts and his memories.

Artefacts coming out of ice- and snow patches in high-alpine

areas in South Norway
Wangen, V. & Solli, B.
Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo.

Corresponding author contact details: vivian.wangen@khm.uio.no

In 2006 there was a dramatic ablation of ice-and snow patches in the alpine areas of South
Norway. Various archaeological artefacts like shafted arrowheads, remains of scaringsticks organized in lines to direct the movement of reindeers, and other organic material
associated with ancient hunting strategies were recovered on the sites of the deleted
snowfields. Hitherto ca. 700 artefacts have been collected, handed in to, and registered
by the Museum of Cultural History (MCH), University of Oslo. This material constitutes
a unique data set to study environmental change and human long term exploitation of
alpine resources in South Norway and South Spmi. Organic material dated to e.g. AD
500 like shafts and scaring-sticks melting out of the ice, are well preserved, and this
indicates that the ice- and snow patches have been stable and on the spot for 1500 years.
The archaeological material will also constitute a new basis for the study of Iron Age and
Middle Age subsistence economy, e.g. hunting and trapping techniques, resource
exploitation, exchange and consumption.

Ice Patch Archaeology in Oppland, Norway- 2010 Update

Finstad, E. & Pil, L.
Oppland County Municipality, Norway

Corresponding author contact details: Espen.Finstad@oppland.org

The ice patches in Oppland County, Norway, have seen a lot of archaeological activity
since the melt of ice patches during the warm summer of 2006, which led to the exposure
of hundreds of artefacts. A number of ice patches have been visited, and one very
artefact-rich site has been extensively surveyed. A 2010 status report points at 19 known
ice patches with artefacts in Oppland. However, this is likely to be only ca. 25 % of the
total. Most artefacts are of Iron Age origin. The oldest artefact, a shoe, is dated to 3070+40 BP.
The sites appear to fall in two general categories: Sites with a limited number of stray
finds, such as arrows and wooden spades, and artefact-rich sites with large numbers of
scaring sticks. The latter type seems to be a specialized type of hunting site, only present
in part of the ice patch area.
In 2009 a systematic and large-scale survey was undertaken of the exposed terrain along
the edge of the Juvfonna ice patch (1850 m.a.s.l.) in Lom, Oppland, Norway. A total area
of 50.000 m2 was covered. More than 500 artefacts were discovered and 50 hunting
blinds were recorded. Nearly all recovered artefacts are Iron Age wooden scaring sticks
connected to reindeer hunting. The earliest date is ca. 1800 BP. The survey was a joint
operation between Oppland County Municipality and the Museum of Cultural History,
University of Oslo. Specialists in glaciology, meteorology and permafrost have also
participated in the project.

Considering the Social Context of a Frozen Past Discovery:

The Kwdy Dn Tsnch Find from Northern British
Columbia, Canada
Champagne and Aishihik First Nations, Strand, D., Joe, L., Greer S. &
Mackie, A.
Corresponding author contact details: sgreer@cafn.ca
In August 1999, in Tatshenshini-Alsek Park within the traditional lands of the
Champagne and Aishihihk people in northern British Columbia, Canada, human remains
were found melting out of a glacier. The discovery, named "Kwdy Dn
Tsnch" meaning "Long Ago Person Found" in the Southern Tutchone (Athapaskan)

language, sparked international interest as well as a variety of scientific and communitybased studies. In the decade since the find was made, detailed results have been
forthcoming from the various investigations. We have identified individuals related to this
person through the maternal line, learned about his health and life history, established the
details and route of his last journey, learned about the traditional arts represented in his
clothing and tools, and gained insights into the past use and the ethnography and
ethnohistory of this mountainous glacial landscape. We have also gained insight into a
most important concern - community values regarding the deceased, and the role that the
spirits of the dead play in the lives of contemporary community members. With the
support of our co-manager in the discovery, the province of British Columbia, these
values have guided the First Nations' approach to handling the find, making it more of a
forensic study of the death of a family member, than the investigation of an extraordinary
archaeological find. Our experience with the Kwdy Dn Ts
nch project leads us
to suggest that the social context within which the discovery is managed is of primary
importance in glacial archaeology situations. We also suggest that in areas where the
"Frozen Past" is encountered, peoples and governments must be prepared to deal
with such methodologically and socially complex finds, and that the possibility of such
discoveries must be part of any climate change adaptation strategy.

What Mosses tell us about Ancient Glacier Mummies,

especially tzi, the Iceman
Dickson, J. H.
Corresponding author contact details: prof.j.h.dickson@googlemail.com

Only 15 species of bryophytes, mosses and liverworts, now grow around the site at 3,200
m asl in the Alps where the 5,200 year old body of a man, tzi, was discovered. In great
contrast, no less than 80 species of bryophytes in total were extracted from the mineral
sediments and old ice in the hollow, from tzis clothes and gear and from his alimentary
tract.

This unanticipated and very large number of bryophytes is a rich source of information
concerning palaeoenvironment, the Icemans domicile, lifestyle and the events of the days
shortly before his death.

Was the Iceman buried?

Sjvold, T.
Osteology Unit, Wallenberg Laboratory, Stockholm University. Sweden.

Corresponding author contact details: Torstein.Sjovold@ofl.su.se

In a recent paper by Vanzetti, Vidale, Galliano, Frayer and Bondioli published online by
Antiquity on 26 August 2010 and in hard copy in Antiquity Volume 84, Issue 325,
September 2010 pages 681-692, it is claimed that the Iceman was subject to a ritual burial
on a platform some few metres from the location where he was discovered on 19
September 1991 at 3213 m altitude. The assumption is based on the distribution of finds
and previous results showing that several finds, including larger object and the body of
the Iceman, were not discovered in their original position. The authors make the
assumption that the time of death was in spring/early summer but that the deposition on
the platform took place in the autumn. This is based on a combination of a late and an
early result concerning the Icemans the time of death and how he became mummified.
During summer the Iceman should have been kept at a lower altitude.

However, the authors have disregarded important archaeological and scientific facts as
well as scientific results from the study of the Iceman himself, to have misunderstood
delayed burial in winter with frost in the ground, and appear to be ignorant about several
geographical and geomorphological factors of the site and its surroundings. The
presentation gives a summary of the paper by Vanzetti et al. and their arguments,
followed by a demonstration of facts showing that the ideas put forth by them are wrong.

Permafrost, Glaciers and Inca Ice Mummies in Argentina

Ceruti, M. C.
Conicet / Catholic University of Salta, Salta, Argentina

Corresponding author contact details: constanza_ceruti@yahoo.com

Three frozen bodies of ancient Inca children were discovered at an altitude of 6.715
meters during archaeological excavations conducted by Johan Reinhard and the author of
this paper, on the summit of volcano Llullaillaco, in the Andes of Argentina. The
mummies were buried together with numerous sumptuary objects including textiles,
metal figurines and Inca style pottery. The summit of Llullaillaco is considered to be the
highest archaeological site in the world and the Llullaillaco children are among the best
preserved mummies known to date.

Interdisciplinary studies on the Llullaillaco ice mummies at the Catholic University of

Salta, involved a local team of experts that conducted conventional X-rays, CT scans,
dental analysis and pathological studies. Ancient D.N.A. and hair analysis were also
undertaken in collaboration with academic institutions in the USA and Europe.
Mummified remains of Inca children found on other Argentinean mountains - such as
Chai, Aconcagua, El Toro, Chuscha and Quehuar - have also provided information on
the age and sex profile of the Inca sacrificial victims, their health condition and social
status, and the techniques involved in the ancient sacrificial rituals on sacred mountains.

This paper will provide an overview on the ice mummies in Argentina, considering the
diverse circumstances of their discovery and pondering differences in their preservation
in relation to the presence of glaciers, the conditions of the permafrost and the effects of
climate change.

Archaeology in the Ice. Schnidejoch and other sites in the Swiss

Alps
Hafner, A.
Archaeological Service of the Canton of Bern, Switzerland

Corresponding author contact details: albert.hafner@erz.be.ch

Only a small number of sites in the Alps have produced archaeological finds from melting
ice. To date, all the prehistoric finds from the Neolithic period and the Bronze Age have
been recovered from very small ice patches. Glaciers, on the other hand, have yielded
historic finds and glacier bodies that are only a few hundred years old. Between 2003 and
2009 numerous archaeological finds were recovered from a melting unnamed ice patch on
the Schnidejoch in the Bernese Alps (Cantons Berne and Valais, Switzerland). They dated
from the Neolithic period, the Early Bronze Age, the Iron Age, the Roman era and the
Middle Ages, spanning a period of 6000 years. The Schnidejoch is a pass at an altitude of
2756 m a.s.l. in the Wildhorn region of the western Bernese Alps. The pass has yielded
some of the earliest evidence of Neolithic human activity at high altitude in the Alps. The
abundant assemblage of finds contained a number of unique artefacts and provided a
large amount of new insights into the frequentation and use of high Alpine regions since
the Neolithic period. The Schnidejoch site is particularly important both from the point of
view of the history of Alpine traffic and climate history in general.

Glacial archaeology in Tirol, Austria. Possibilities and

Problems of Frozen Pasts
Stadler, H.
Institute of Archeologies University Innsbruck, Austria

Corresponding author contact: Harald.Stadler@uibk.ac.at

With more than 637 examples, the Federal State of Tyrol is extremely rich in glaciers.
Although a breakthrough for this special type of archaeology could be achieved in 1991

with the Man in the Ice, Austria has still failed to create the necessary structures for
dominant glacier archaeology.
Repeatedly objects that emerge out of the ice, indirectly find their way to official offices
(monument offices and university institutes). Using many examples from the Modern era
(19th 20th Century), the struggles of these possibilities and difficulties of the region are
presented.

Archaeology of the First World War in glacial environments of

the central eastern Alps
Nicolis, F., Bassi, C., Cappellozza, N. & Vicenzi, M.
Soprintendenza per i beni librari, archivistici e archeologici, Via Aosta, 1, I 38122
TRENTO. Italy.

Corresponding author contact details: franco.nicolis@provincia.tn.it

Global warming is changing the alpine landscape. The retreating of the glaciers is a
climatic emergency, but is taking with it a cultural emergency. The melting of ice is
bringing to light evidence of the human presence at high altitudes from prehistory to
contemporary times, and the sensational finding of the Iceman in September 1991 at an
altitude of 3210 metres asl is by now part of the collective consciousness.
During the First World War (1914-1918) strong battles have been fought at high altitudes
in the central-eastern alpine region (Trentino, Lombardy, Veneto), and following
increasingly extensive melting in summer, some of the First World War structures have
begun to emerge from ice as well.
For this reason, the Archaeological Service of the autonomous Province of Trento
decided to carry on archaeological interventions in First World War sites, obviously
strongly conditioned by the environmental characteristics of the sites (some of them are
more than 3500 metres high) and the limited time available.
The need to deal with the problem of the increasing number of findings emerging using
scientific methods is a direct concern of archaeologists, who find themselves at the

forefront in difficult recovery procedures aiming to acquire the largest possible amount of
information.
In this paper the role of archaeology in the collection of the First World War evidence in
the glacial environments of the massive of Ortles-Cevedale is highlighted, and some case
studies are presented.

Archaeological excavation and artefact conservation at

Captain Scotts hut in Antarctica
Skinner, L.
Vitenskapsmuseet/ NTNU, Trondheim & The Antarctic Heritage Trust

Corresponding author contact details: Lucy.skinner@gmail.com

The historic hut built by Captain Robert F. Scott remains standing on Ross Island in
Antarctica. It was built in 1911 and is filled inside with artefacts and the outside is
surrounded by discarded and buried artefacts and materials. The artefacts are of immense
historic importance because they date to the heroic era of science and exploration on the
Antarctic continent.
Many of the artefacts remain buried and frozen in ice and they are well preserved.
However, there have been periods in the past without snow and the current program of
hut restoration and preservation has necessitated archaeological excavation both within
the stables and in the vicinity to the hut. The work involves a great deal of snow and ice
removal. This is allowing objects to be exposed to the wind, become vulnerable to bird
attack and during the summer time they begin to thaw, causing rapid physical and
chemical deterioration
This paper will describe the challenges, considerations and dilemmas involved in the
process of excavating and conserving organic materials in such an exceedingly isolated
and harsh environment. The methods of excavation employed for digging through frozen
ice and ground will be described, as well as the conservation techniques employed in
order to preserve the artefacts into the future.

Pollen Analysis of Caribou Dung from Ice Patches in the Southern Yukon

Bowyer, V.

10:30-11:00

17:30-18:00

17:00-17:30

16:30-17:00

16:00-16:30

15:30-16:00

15:00-15:30

14:30-15:00

14:00-14:30

13:30-14:00

Gheyle, W., Van De

Kerchove, R., Goossens, R.,
Dvornikov, R. & Bourgeois,
J.
Van De Kerchove, R.,
Gheyle, W., Goossens, R.,
Bourgeois, J. & Ebel
A.MacKay, G.
PLENUM

Jasinski, M. E.

Andrews, T. D., MacKay, G.

& Andrew, L.
Meulendyk, T., Moorman,
B.J., Andrews, T.D. &
MacKay, G.
Alix, C., Andrews, T., Hare,
P. G., & Mackay, G.

Lee, C. M.

11:00-11:30
Monahan, V.
11:30-12:00
Dixon. E. J. & Jarman, N. L.
12:00-12:30
VanderHoek, R.
12:30-13:30
13:30-17:30 SESSION 4
Session Leader: Valery Monahan

Coffee Break

The Frozen Tombs of the Altay Mountains: Assessment of the Thermal Lowering Effect by Monitoring Ground
Temperatures

The Frozen Tombs of the Altay Mountains: An Endangered Heritage

Permafrost, Glaciers & Archaeologists. The Frozen Politics of Spitsbergen

Coffee Break

A Thousand Years of Lost Hunting Arrows Wood Analysis of Ice Patch Remains

Morphology and development of ice patches in N.W.T., Canada

Archaeological Investigations of Alpine Ice Patches in the Selwyn Mountains, Northwest Territories, Canada

Ten Millennia of Ice Patch Hunting in the Mid-Latitude Rocky Mountains of North America

Lunch

Conserving the Yukon Ice Patch Collection: lessons learned from a decade of frozen artifact care.
Archeology of the Bonanza Ice Patch, Alaska
Native Alaskan Ice Patch Utilization: Alpine Trails and Seasonal Rounds

Kitchen-middens and climate change the future preservation of a frozen past. A case study from Qajaa, Greenland
Assessing Long and Short Term Archaeological Signatures within Yukon Ice Patches
People, Caribou and Ice - Yukon First Nations and the Yukon Ice Patch Studies

Matiesen et al.
Hare, P. G. & Thomas, C. D.
Greer, S.

08:30-09:30
09:00-09:30
09:30-10:00
10:00-10:30

Archaeological Treasures in West Greenland: Qajaa and Qeqertasusuk, the Earliest Frozen Sites of the Eastern Arctic

Grnnow, B. & Jensen, J. F.

08:00-08:30

08:00-12:30
SESSION 3
Session Leader: Martin Callanan

Frozen Pasts- Wednesday 6th October 2010

Frozen Pasts- Paper Abstracts- Wednesday 6th October

Archaeological Treasures in West Greenland: Qajaa and
Qeqertasusuk, the Earliest Frozen Sites of the Eastern Arctic
Grnnow, B. & Jensen, J. F.
SILA Arctic Centre at the Ethnographic Collections, The National Museum of Denmark

Corresponding author contact details: bjarne.gronnow@natmus.dk

The Disko Bay in northern West Greenland holds two archaeological treasures: the sites
Qajaa and Qeqertasussuk in Disco Bay. The culture layers at these sites have been
permanently frozen since the first people, the Early Palaeo-Eskimos, entered the country
4.500 years ago. These two Saqqaq Culture sites are quite unique as they are the only
known early Palaeo-Eskimo sites showing excellent preservation conditions of all organic
matter like skin, hair, feathers, wood, baleen, bones and antler. The sites were
investigated 25 years ago by Greenlandic/Danish interdisciplinary teams resulting in
important new insights into the pioneering societies of the Arctic. Since field work was
finalized new methods, e.g. analyses of ancient DNA, have been introduced and the
artefacts, human remains and soil samples from Qajaa and Qeqertasussuk are constantly
yielding new pieces of information.

Kitchen-middens and climate change the future preservation

of a frozen past. A case study from Qajaa, Greenland
Matthiesen, H.1, Andreasen, C.2, Elberling, B.3, Grnnow, B.1, Hollesen, J.3,
Jensen, J.B.1, Jrgensen, C.J.3 & Meldgaard, M.4
1

National Museum of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark

Greenland National Museum and Archives, Nuuk, Greenland

Department of Geography and Geology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

4

Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

Corresponding author contact details: henning.matthiesen@natmus.dk

Permafrost can ensure excellent preservation of archaeological material for thousands of

years. However, rising temperatures in the future may lead to thawing of some of the
permafrozen sites. Knowledge of the rate and extent of thawing is necessary to make
management plans for these sites.
Here we present a four year monitoring and research project taking place at Qajaa, one of
Greenlands best preserved kitchen-middens, containing permafrozen organic material
from 4000 years of inhabitation by three different cultures. The project shall investigate
the current and future preservation conditions at the site, and - if necessary - propose
remediation actions to ensure its future preservation. It combines research in in situ
preservation of archaeological sites with experiences from handling of mine waste under
arctic conditions.
The kitchen-midden was visited in 2009 to assess its state of preservation, make field
measurements of environmental conditions, and retrieve samples of soil and
archaeological artefacts for characterisation. Automatic monitoring equipment was
installed measuring, amongst others, the temperature and water content in the soil at
different depths. A heat transport model is made to predict the exact thawing rate and
possible drainage of the midden based on different climate scenarios. The site is also
threatened by physical erosion as seawater reaches the lowest lying parts of the midden at
spring tide. The future threats from physical erosion are modelled as well, depending on
changes in ice cover, sea level rise, and an expected land heave in the area.

Assessing Long and Short Term Archaeological Signatures

within Yukon Ice Patches
Hare, P. G. & Thomas, C. D.
Yukon Cultural Services Branch, Box 2703 Whitehorse, Yukon, Y1A 5V, Canada

Corresponding author contact details: greg.hare@gov.yk.ca

Since 1997, ancient cultural and biological materials have been recovered from melting
alpine ice patches in southern Yukon. To date, more than 200 archaeological objects and
1600 faunal elements have been recovered from 35 ice patches, with artifacts ranging in
age from a 9,000 year old dart shaft to a 19th century musket ball. More than 200 AMS
radiocarbon dates have been obtained from organic artifacts and well preserved biological
materials, allowing for new insights into prehistoric land uses patterns in alpine Yukon.
These insights suggest that intensity of alpine hunting fluctuated significantly throughout
the Holocene and was not always synchronous with changes in caribou populations. This
paper also provides an overview of the rare and fragile Yukon ice patch archaeological
material with interpretations of technological change through time.

People, Caribou and Ice - Yukon First Nations and the Yukon
Ice Patch Studies
Yukon Ice Patch First Nations (Carcross-Tagish First Nation, Champagne
and Aishihik First Nations, Kluane First Nation, Kwanlin Dun First Nation,
Ta'an Kwach'an Council and Teslin Tlingit Council)

Corresponding author contact details: SGreer@cafn.ca

The Yukon ice patch sites are located within the traditional territory of six Yukon First
Nations, whose citizens are of Southern Tutchone (Athapaskan) or Tlingit cultural
background. Our ancestors made their living through hunting, fishing and trading,
following seasonal rounds that involved a high degree of mobility, with caribou (Rangifer
tarandus) formerly being a key subsistence species. While moose (Alces alces) now fills

that role, today's citizens continue to practice the hunting and fishing traditions of the
ancestors and maintaining ties to the land continues to be a priority. The First Nations
governments are partners along with Yukon Government Heritage in the Yukon ice patch
project. Citizens participate in the ice patch field work as well as related outreach
activities such as science camps. They have been documenting traditional indigenous
knowledge relevant to understanding the ice patch phenomena, the importance of caribou
in our peoples' history, and the traditional use of the mountain landscapes where the ice
patches are found. The project is providing many opportunities for community education
and development - a chance for citizens, especially youth, to be involved in the study of
their history, to link science and archaeology with community, to explore the impact of
climate change on our homelands, and for capacity development and cultural
strengthening.

Pollen Analysis of Caribou Dung from Ice Patches in the

Southern Yukon
Bowyer, V. E.
Department of Anthropology, University of Alberta

Corresponding author contact details: vbowyer@ualberta.ca

A key adaptation of hunter-gatherers in the western subarctic of Canada is the seasonal

use of resources. Knowing when a particular resource is available can provide insights
into when ancient peoples visited and used particular locations. In the southwest Yukon,
radiocarbon dates on caribou dung and cultural material indicate that alpine ice patches
were used over at least the last 8000 years. Previous palynological studies suggest that
pollen from dung can provide information on the time of year in which animals were
foraging. In this study pollen was analysed from well preserved caribou dung from the
Friday Creek and Granger Mountain ice patches. Results indicate that a variety of windand insect-pollinated taxa are present and interpretations are complex. Several
taphonomic factors and the applicability of modern analogue samples are evaluated.

Keeping these factors in mind, pollen analyses of dung preserved within ice patches is an
important addition to plant fragment analyses.

Conserving the Yukon Ice Patch Collection: lessons learned

from a decade of frozen artifact care
Monahan, V.
Museums Unit, Tourism and Culture, Yukon Government, Yukon, Canada

Corresponding author contact details: Valery.Monahan@gov.yk.ca

Since 1997, 200 archaeological artifacts have been recovered from alpine ice patches in
Yukon, Canada. The collection consists of hunting projectiles and a sewn hide moccasin.
Artifacts range from just over 100 to almost 9000 years old. Preserved materials include
wood, antler, sinew, raw-hide, semi-tanned hide, feathers, chipped stone, ochre-based
paint and tree resin adhesive. After thirteen years of conservation and collections work,
valuable insights have been gained into the preservation, treatment, analysis and longterm care of these frozen archaeological artifacts.
Ice patch artifacts can be perfectly preserved as highlighted by the recent identification
of unoxidized spruce resin adhesive on a 7310 year old Yukon artifact. Most ice patch
artifacts show varying levels of deterioration, however, as a result of post-melting
exposure in the alpine environment.
Yukon ice patch artifacts are not waterlogged and respond well to simple freeze-drying.
Non-chemical treatment prevents conflict with artifact analysis. Collection work has
focused on the physical protection of these important and fragile objects.

Archaeology of the Bonanza Ice Patch, Alaska

Dixon, E. J. & Jarman, N. L.
University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Corresponding author contact details: jdixon@unm.edu

The Bonanza Ice Patch is located on the north side of the Wrangell St. Elias Mountain
Range in interior Alaska. The site was discovered in 2003 and has been part of an
ongoing study since that time. It contains evidence of human use from about 3,000 years
ago to the time of historic contact. Different areas of the ice patch have been used at
different times and record distinct events primarily related to caribou (Rangifer tarandus)
and sheep (Ovis dalli) hunting as well as other activities. The artifacts can be linked
using the direct historic approach to the Athapaskan people who occupied the region at
the time of history contact with Euro-American culture. Artifacts recovered from the site
provide new insights and interpretations about northern Athapaskan high altitude summer
subsistence adaptations.

Native Alaskan Ice Patch Utilization: Alpine Trails and

Seasonal Rounds
VanderHoek, R.
State of Alaska Office of History and Archaeology (U.S.A.)

Corresponding author contact details: richard.vanderhoek@alaska.gov

Increased melting of Arctic ice patches and glaciers in response to climate change have
exposed numerous examples of well-preserved organic and lithic artifacts. Preliminary
ice patch surveys have taken place across much of Alaska, but to date cultural materials
have only been recovered in the mountains and foothills in the south-central part of the
state.
Alaskan ice patches occur at different elevations in different regions, with their presence
largely dependent on precipitation, slope, aspect, elevation, wind direction, catchment
area, and local elevation of snowline.
Similar to Canadian finds, Alaskan ice patch artifacts largely reflect the alpine pursuit of
caribou by prehistoric hunters.

Hunting tools recovered include complete and

fragmentary arrow shafts; antler, stone and copper projectile points; dart shaft fragments,
and dart foreshafts. Other artifacts suggest ice patch large mammal hunting may have
been part of a more complex subsistence strategy that included summer harvesting of
alpine berries, ground squirrels, and other mammals and birds. These include a section of

birch bark basket, pieces of rolled birch bark, and a stave used for setting ground squirrel
snares. Ice patch use by hunters correlates with multiple variables including proximity to
trails through the high country and favored camping locations. Available Alaskan ice
patch data, together with that from northwestern North America, suggests that ice patch
finds may reflect part of a seasonal round that includes alpine travel and the harvesting of
higher altitude resources.

Ten Millennia of Ice Patch Hunting in the Mid-Latitude Rocky

Mountains of North America
Lee, C. M.
Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado & Metcalf Archaeological
Consultants, Inc.

Corresponding author contact details: craig.lee@colorado.edu

In the mid-latitude Rocky Mountains of North America, archaeological materials have

been identified in association with relatively static snow banks, or ice patches, that
attracted animals and their human predators. Ice patches characteristically exhibit little
internal deformation or movement, and can contain ancient ice that, unlike glaciers, is
kinetically stable and preservative.

Archeological surveys near Yellowstone National

Park in Montana and Wyoming have identified seven prehistoric sites associated with
melting perennial ice patches at elevations >3000 m above msl.

In addition to

paleobiological remains, recovered materials include organic and chipped stone artifacts
and butchered animal remains. The most remarkable and oldest artifact identified in this
context is a ca. 10,400-year-old wooden dart foreshaft with probable ownership marks.
This rare wooden artifact is contemporary with the late Paleoindian Cody complex
(11,220 9,445 cal BP) in North American archeology. It is the oldest artifact yet
discovered melting from ancient ice and suggests some mid-latitude ice patches may
contain ice formed during the Younger Dryas. Ice in these locations may be bed-frozen
and underlain by permafrost. Bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) are the presumed prey
species at this location.

Ice patch discoveries offer important insights into alpine

paleoecology and Native American use of high elevation environments. This presentation
will review efforts to identify and survey prospective locations and highlight efforts for
building and maintaining resource awareness in surrounding areas, including a new effort
in Glacier National Park, Montana involving tribal partners from the Confederated Salish
Kootenai Tribes, Blackfeet Nation, University of Wyoming and INSTAAR.

Archaeological Investigations of Alpine Ice Patches in the

Selwyn Mountains, Northwest Territories, Canada
Andrews T. D.1, MacKay G.1 & Andrew, L.2
1

Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, Yellowknife, NT, Canada

2

Tulita Dene Band, Tulita, NT, Canada

Corresponding author contact details: tom_andrews@gov.nt.ca

Inspired by the ground-breaking investigation of ice patch archaeology in Yukon

Territory, the authors began exploring the Mackenzie Mountains for ice patch
archaeological sites in 2000.

Remote sensing and air photo analysis, followed by

intensive field surveys in the Selwyn and Mackenzie Mountains, resulted in the
documentation of eight ice patch sites containing well-preserved archaeological artifacts
and biological specimens. Twelve additional ice patches exhibit the key indicators of ice
patch archaeological sites, i.e. permanent ice lenses containing caribou fecal matter and
faunal material, but so far have not yielded artifacts. Collections from ice patches in the
Selwyn Mountains include examples of three pre-contact weapon systems.

Atlatl

technology, represented by the distal ends of two darts dating to 2410 and 2310 BP,
predates bow-and-arrow technology, which consists of two complete arrows, two distal
shaft fragments and a partial bow dating between 850 and 270 BP. A ground squirrel
snare dates to 970 BP. Caribou dominates the faunal remains recovered from the ice
patches. These data are discussed in terms of their potential to illuminate the pre-contact
culture history of the Selwyn and Mackenzie Mountains, particularly changes in hunting
technologies and the organization of hunting technology in subarctic alpine subsistencesettlement systems.

Morphology and Development of Ice patches in N.W.T.,

Canada
Meulendyk, T., Moorman, B. J., Andrews, T. D., MacKay, G.
Department of Geography, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada

Corresponding author contact details: tmeulend@ucalgary.ca

Permanent ice patches in the western Canadian subarctic have been identified as sources
of cryogenically preserved artifacts and biological specimens. Recent archaeological
work in the Yukon and Northwest Territories has revealed evidence of hunting by
humans on the alpine patches for thousands of years. The role of ice patches as use areas
for wildlife and repositories for artifacts is due to their persistence on the landscape.
However, the formation, composition and constancy of these features have yet to be
studied. As part of the N.W.T. Ice Patch Study, ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and ice
coring were used to examine the stratigraphy and internal structure of two ice patches.
Results show the patches are composed of a core of staggered, distinct units, up to several
meters thick, covered by firn and snow. The contacts between the ice layers are often
demarcated by thin sections of frozen caribou urine, dung, and sediment. A formation
model developed using GPR data and Carbon-14 dates extracted from the ice cores
revealed a long history for these perennial patches (up to 4400 years BP). Extensive time
gaps exist between the units of ice indicating that although snow deposition occurs every
winter it is often melted and many years can pass before an annual deposition is
preserved. These ice patches have shown stability in a variable climate, as their
preservation is strongly controlled by topography and wind direction. The results of this
work not only reveal the character of ice patch development, but also indicate the
palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimatic significance of the ice patches.

A Thousand Years of Lost Hunting Arrows Wood Analysis of

Ice Patch Remains in Northwestern Canada
Alix, C.1, Andrews, T.2, Hare, P. G.3, & Mackay, G.2
1.

UMR 8096 Archologic des Amriques - CNRS / Universit de Paris 1, Panthon

Sorbonne, France
2.

3.

Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, Yellowknife, Canada

Department of Tourism and Culture, Government of Yukon, Whitehorse, Canada

Corresponding author contact details: Claire.Alix@univ-paris1.fr

The study of bow and arrow and the debate over the timing of the transition from
atlatl/dart to bow and arrow technology, in the Old and New World, is generally based on
analysis of dart and arrow stone points. Indeed it is usually the only element remaining in
archaeological sites. In the last 15 to 20 years, the archaeology of Ice Patch regions has
provided a unique opportunity to analyze hunting equipment over time and gain
knowledge of their wooden elements. This paper reports on the wood analysis of a
collection of twenty-seven arrow shafts from two ice patch regions of the Canadian
Subarctic. In both regions, two main categories of arrow shafts show the selection of
specific pieces of spruce (Picea sp.) on the one hand, and birch (Betula sp.) on the other,
with associated morphometrical characteristics. These shafts share also some
characteristics that are distinct from those of arctic / coastal arrow shafts. Shafts of pine
(Pinus sp. sec. ponderosa) and hemlock (Tsuga sp.) were also identified in southwestern
Yukon Territories. The absence of correlation so far between the arrow shaft type and 14C
dating raises the question of the significance of the two arrow types and the potential for
function, trade, or travel to explain the variation.

Permafrost, Glaciers & Archaeologists. The Frozen Politics of

Spitsbergen
Jasinski, M. E.
Dept. of Archaeology & Religious Studies, NTNU, Trondheim, Norway

Corresponding author contact details: marek.jasinski@hf.ntnu.no

The natural resources of the High Arctic archipelago of Spitsbergen have been of interest to
people from further south in Europe for some centuries. Written sources show that
considering the latitude, there was a relatively intensive exploitation of these resources in the
17-19th centuries in the form of western European whaling and Russian sea-hunting. Some
authors have suggested that cultural development started in the archipelago much earlier.
Archipelago of Spitsbergen is a special case within both Norwegian and Russian
archaeology and within Norwegian heritage management administration. The fascinating
history of Spitsbergen attracts the interest of historians and archaeologists from several
countries, mainly representing nations that have been taking part in utilization of
Spitsbergens biological and geological resources.
The high arctic environment of the Archipelago with permafrost and active glaciers
affects most of the archaeological sites in the region. This has major implications for the
archaeological methods used by particular national and international archaeological
expeditions. The geographical position and special status of Spitsbergen has additional
administrative and political implications for archaeological research in the area.
The present paper is based on my personal experiences from archaeological research in
the Archipelago carried out in the period between 1987 2000.

The Frozen Tombs of the Altay Mountains: An Endangered

Heritage
Gheyle, W.1, Van De Kerchove, R.2, Goossens, R.2, Dvornikov, R. 3 &
Bourgeois, J.1
1

Ghent University, Department of archaeology (Ghent, Belgium)

Ghent University, Department of geography (Ghent, Belgium)

Faculty of History, University of Gorno-Altaysk (Altay Republic, Russian Federation)

Corresponding author contact details: wouter.gheyle@ugent.be

The Altay Mountains are situated where China, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and the Altay
Republic (Russian Federation) meet. Scattered across the mountains are thousands of
surface structures dating from the 3rd millennium BCE up to the 19th century CE, the most
famous of which are the burial mounds of the Early Iron Age Scythians. Many of these
tombs are located in permafrost areas, keeping them frozen for over 2000 years and
preserving textile, wood, leather and even fully harnessed horses. The bodies of the dead
have often been so well preserved that the tattoos on their skin remain intact. Grave
robbers and fortune hunters have been the tombs traditional enemies but, today, climate
change causes part of the frozen ground to thaw, and the remaining frozen tombs could be
lost forever. In 2005, Ghent University and UNESCOs WHC started the Frozen Tombs
of the Altay Mountains Preservation and Conservation initiative, together with local
institutions in Russia and Kazakhstan. A first step is to locate the endangered sites, that
are mostly unstudied or even unknown, by doing intensive surveys of large research
areas. This was done in both the Russian and Kazakh part of the Altay, resulting in
detailed archaeological maps and a database with detailed information about over 15,000
individual archaeological monuments. Besides surveying, the team is also studying the
distribution and state of permafrost grounds in the Altay (see the paper by R. Van de
Kerchove), and a search for solutions to preserve part of the tombs in situ has been
started.

The Frozen Tombs of the Altay Mountains: Assessment of the

Thermal Lowering Effect by Monitoring Ground
Temperatures
Van De Kerchove, R.1, Gheyle, W.2, Goossens, R.1, Bourgeois, J.2& Ebel A.3
1

Department of Geography, University of Ghent, Krijgslaan, 281, S8 B-9000 GENT.

2
3

Department of Archaeology, University of Ghent, Blandijnberg, 2, B-9000 GENT.

Faculty of History, University of Gorno-Altaysk, Lenkin Street 1, 649000 Gorno-Altaysk,

Altay Republic, Russian Federation

Corresponding author contact details: Ruben.vandekerchove@UGent.be

As nowadays a distinct temperature rising is showed in continental mountain ranges as

the Russian Altay Mountains, the frozen tombs, and especially these ones located at the
lower fringe of the permafrost area, are likely to defrost within decades. As a result, the
valuable, frozen, organic and inorganic content will get lost, resulting in a loss of
extremely valuable cultural heritage and knowledge. Therefore, extensive permafrost
research regarding the thermal state of the frozen tombs and the spatial distribution of the
mountain permafrost is necessary to forecast which of the tombs are endangered by
thawing. To assess this threat and to calibrate future climate models on the local scale of
the frozen tombs. This paper tries to meet these objectives by showing the results of
temperature measurements performed in the Russian Altay between 2008 and 2010. In
detail, the thermal regime is studied at 3 levels: At first, surface temperatures inside a
tomb are compared to undisturbed natural temperature profiles located in its vicinity.
Next, temperatures at depth inside a burial mound are compared to undisturbed boreholetemperatures. Therefore an archaeological/periglacial experiment was carried out in the
Ulandryk Valley, where an in 1972 excavated tomb was reconstructed in 2008. Finally,
also results from installations at the Ukok-Plateau, an area known for its frozen burial
mounds, intended to study 2D and 3D temperature-fluxes inside the coarse debris layer,
are outlined and discussed.

Frozen Pasts-Poster Abstracts

All Under One Roof- Multidisciplinary Snow Patch Research

at NTNU
Airola, L. 1, Berthling, I.2, Callanan, M.3, Foosns, K.4, Perlikova, Z.1,
Skinner, L.1 & Vatne, G.2
1

NTNU-Museum of Natural History and Archaeology, Trondheim, Norway

2

3
4

Dept of Geography, NTNU, Trondheim, Norway

Dept. of Archaeology and Religious Studies, NTNU, Trondheim, Norway

The National Laboratory for 14C Dating, Section of Archaeometry, NTNU-Museum of

Natural History and Archaeology, Trondheim, Norway

Corresponding author contact details: callanan@hf.ntnu.no

Archaeological snow patches produce valuable prehistoric artefacts that tell us, among
other things about past hunting patterns and indicate a detailed knowledge of the interplay
between landscape and animal behavior on the part of prehistoric people. Alpine snow
patches also have the potential to provide us with both direct and proxy data on a number
of issues related to Holocene climate and landscape developments and processes.
However, snow patches are complex and challenging contexts both with respect to
understanding the nature and potential of the processes, structures and deposits contained
therein, as well as to locating, securing and analysing the finds they produce.
In this poster we outline the broad technical and academic infrastructure and expertise
that is gathered under one institutional roof at NTNU. The poster is multidisciplinary in
nature with contributions from archaeology, glaciology, conservation science, geophysics
and archeometry.

Living Traditions: Collaborative Research on Ice Patch Topics

Among First Nations in Southern Yukon
Carcross/Tagish First Nation, Champagne & Aishihik First Nations, Kluane
First Nation, Kwanlin Dn First Nation, Taan Kwchn Council, Teslin
Tlingit Council

Corresponding author contact details: mnelson@taan.ca

Since archaeological ice patches were discovered in southern Yukon, Canada in 1997, the
six Yukon First Nations who have ice patches in their traditional territories have
collaborated with each other and the Government of Yukon to undertake research,
stewardship, and education related to the patches. These six First Nations have recently
begun research within their communities on their elders traditional knowledge related to
ice patch topics, such as alpine hunting techniques, caribou behaviour and population
decline, and climate change affecting the Yukon alpine. This research enhances and
benefits the scientific studies undertaken concerning ice patch artifacts and biological
specimens. Conducting community-level research helps connect First Nations citizens to
the Yukon ice patch project, and provides an opportunity for them to build connections
with their ancestors lifeways. The six First Nations partners use the research project as a
means to educate their young citizens and other Yukoners about the importance of ice
patch hunting in their heritage. At the conclusion of the research, a publication is planned
which would share certain First Nations traditional knowledge about ice patch topics with
a broad audience.

Frozen WWII battlefields in High Arctic Greenland

Jensen, J. F., Krause, T. & Grnnow, B.
National Museum of Denmark

Corresponding author contact details: jens.fog.jensen@natmus.dk

Soon after the outbreak of the Second World War, the Axis Powers were denied access to data
from international weather stations under allied control. Germany thus had to establish her own
network weather stations throughout the North Atlantic. In Greenland the Marinewetterdienst
established several manned weather stations. The most successful were Holzauge and
Bassgeiger, each in operation in for almost an entire year in 1942/43 and 1943/44, respectively.
The Allied forces, in return, had established the North-East Greenland Sledge Patrol in 1941, in
order to defend the coast against German activities. In 2007 and 2008, archaeologists and
historians from the National Museum of Denmark investigated the fire sites of both the Allied
station at Eskimons, and the German station 'Holzauge' on Sabine . In 2010, these historicalarchaeological investigations were continued on the remains of the German station Bassgeiger at
Shannon .

Paper or Poster Title: Post-depositional Processes in

Archaeological Snow Patches.
Outline of a Master Thesis in Archaeology
Martinsen, J.
MA Student, Dept. for Archaeology & Religious Studies, NTNU

Corresponding author contact details: julianro@stud.ntnu.no

The time elapsed between deposition and discovery of archaeological artefacts in snow
patches allows time for a host of processes to affect an artefacts state of preservation. By
measuring the ice temperature of a selection of snow patches throughout a year, it is
hoped that we can achieve a modeling of the movement of the ice- both over the bed and
internal deformation. By modeling the movement of the ice, it might be possible to
achieve a better understanding of the processes that affect artefact preservation within
snow patches.

The Traditions and Cultural Landscape of Hunting Wild

Reindeer A Heritage to the World
Olsen, J.
Project leader- Reindeer hunting as World Heritage

Corresponding author contact details: john.olsen@lesja.kommune.no

Man and wild reindeer have had a unique relationship throughout the past. Not in relation
with any other animal, has the dependency been so vast, for so many, during such a long
time span, as in the case of wild reindeer.
Europes last remaining flocks of wild reindeer are to be found the Southern Norwegian
mountain massif. In these areas, one can find numerous ancient hunting facilities and
other reminders of the exploitation of this resource through thousands of years. Wild
reindeer still use the same migratory routes as a thousand years ago, quite literally- still
regularly migrating alongside ancient pitfall and funnel shaped traps. The varied
topography throughout the area caused a corresponding regional variation in the types and
shapes of these hunting facilities. The importance of the hunting is further underlined by
numerous references in the old laws dating from the Viking- and Middle Ages.
Archaeological excavations in the area these last years have, among other things revealed
finds from Smi populations that date back to the Viking age (c. 800-1000 AD). This
indicates that both Norse and Smi people have exploited the reindeer resources of this
arena. This verifies the sagas and confirms the area as an important cultural landscape.
Reindeer hunting is still an important part of the identity of the area and of the people
living here. Summarised, the area represents a more than 10,000 year long hunting
tradition that still lives today

Preserving Native Culture Through Ice Patch Archaeology: An

Example from the Kenai Mountains, Alaska
Karchut, J. M.
Archaeologist/ Tribal Coordinator-Chugach National Forest
Corresponding author contact details: jmkarchut@fs.fed.us

In August 2010, the United States Forest Service, the Alaska State Office of History and
Archaeology, Alaska Geographic, and the Kenaitze Indian Tribe (Athabascan)
collaborated on an ice patch archaeology project on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. An
interdisciplinary group including archaeologists, wildlife biologists, and others lead a
small group of Native American students on a pilot ice patch archaeology study- the first
of its kind in a National Forest in Alaska. This was the first time archaeologists have
examined this region for potential prehistoric hunting/ resource procurement areas that
focus on alpine snow and ice patches. Even though inclement weather and a low meltyear prohibited the group from surveying the most high-potential snow and ice patches in
the area, the project was a successful collaboration between state and federal landmanaging agencies and an Alaska Native tribe. The Kenaitze students learned about
archaeological survey techniques in an area where their ancestors hunted caribou,
mountain goat, and dall-sheep for thousands of years. US Forest Service archaeologists
will continue to collaborate with the Kenaitze Tribe during future ice patch surveys.

Iron Age Snow Patch Find from Vik, Western Norway

stveit, L. I.
Bergen Museum, Bergen, Norway

Corresponding author contact details: leif.astveit@bm.uib.no

In 1936 piles of wood and twigs (betula, some cut and/or worked) were discovered close
to a snow-patch approximately 1500 masl in Vik Western Norway. These were believed
to be 4-500 years old. Radiocarbon dating of the material gave an age more then thousand
years older; 220-440 AD. In a normal year the site is covered by snow. In September
2010 a survey took place in this mountain area. This poster gives a preliminary report of
how this material has degraded during the last 75 years. It also provides some
interpretations of what the piles could represent.

Frozen Pasts-Participants
Etternavn

Fornavn

Institutional affiliation:

Airola
Alix
Andreasen

Leena
Claire
Johan K.

Andrews

Tom

Bader
Bergan
Berge
Bergstl
Berthling
Bowyer

Bretten

Martin
Cecilie
Ragnhild
Jostein
Ivar
Vandy
Heidi
Mjelva
Tord

Bruhin

Stefanie

Callanan

Martin

Ceruti
Dickson
Dixon
Eidshaug
Fargbregd
Finstad
Fog Jensen

Constanza
James
E. James
Jo Sindre
Oddmunn
Espen
Jens

Foosns

Kristin

The National Laboratory for 14C Dating, Norwegian University

of Science and Technology

Gheyle
Gjeset
Schjlberg
Greer
Grnnow
Hafner
Hare

Wouter

Ghent University, Dept. of Archaeology

Tore

IAR, NTNU

Sheila
Bjarne
Albert
Greg

Haug

Anne

Jarman

Nicholas

Jasinski

Marek

Jrgensen
Kalseth
Karchut
Lecrivain
Lee

Lise Bender
Jenny
Jeremy
Genevieve
Craig

Champagne & Aishihik First Nations

SILA, The National Museum of Denmark
Archaeological Service Canton of Berne
Government of Yukon - Archaeology
Seksjon for arkeologi og kulturhistorie, Vitenskapsmuseet,
NTNU
University of New Mexico
Dept. of Archaeology & Rel. Science, NTNU, Trondheim,
Norway.
IAR, NTNU
NTNU Vitenskapsmuseet
United States Forest Service
None, wife of Prof. James Dickson
University of Colorado - INSTAAR

Breivik

Vitenskapsmuseet, NTNU
UMR 8096 CNRS / Universit de Paris 1 Sorbonne
IAR, NTNU
Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, Yellowknife, NT,
Canada
schweizerisches nationalmuseum
Student NTNU
IAR, NTNU
University of Oslo
Dept. of geography, NTNU
University of Alberta
Vitenskapsmuseet, NTNU
Statens Naturoppsyn (Oppdal)
Archologischer Dienst Graubnden / Archaeological service
Grisons
Dept. of Archaeology & Rel. Science, NTNU, Trondheim,
Norway.
Universidad Catlica de Salta, Argentina
retired from Glasgow University
University of New Mexico
NTNU, IAR
Vitenskapsmuseet, NTNU
Oppland fylkeskommune
National Museum of Denmark

Leverton

David

MacKay

Glen

Martinsen
Matthiesen
Meulendyk
Molyneaux
Mombourquette
Monahan

Julian Post
Henning
Thomas
Katie
Rae
Valery

Nicolis

Franco

Olsen
Pil
Reitmaier
Rolandsen
Ryd
Rtvei
Shorty
Sjvold
Skinner
Sogness
Solli
Solvold
Stadler
Srensen
Srensen
Tidemansen

John
Lars
Thomas
Birgitte M
Yngve
Ingolf
Jason
Torstein
Lucy
Kalle
Brit
Grete Irene
Harald
Heidi
Raymond
Kjersti

Tuddenham

David

Van De
Kerchove
VanderHoek
Vatne
Wangen
Ydse
Aaen
stveit

Project Development Manager

Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, Yellowknife, NT,
Canada
IAR, NTNU
National Museum of Denmark
University of Calgary
University of Edinburgh
Kwanlin Dun First Nation
Yukon Government
Soprintendenza per i beni librari archivistici e archeologici.
Trento, Italy
Gudbrandsdalsmusea AS
Oppland county municipality
Dept. for Prehistory, University of Zurich
IAR, NTNU
Jokkmokk, Sweden
Oppdal Bygdealmenning
Ta'an Kwachan Council
Osteology Unit, Wallenberg Laboratory
Vitenskapsmuseet, NTNU
IAR, NTNU
Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo
NTNU Vitenskapsmuseet
Institute of Archeologies Innsbruck
Dept. of the Environment, Norway
The Norwegian Wild Reindeer Centre North
Frilans
NTNU Vitenskapsmuseet, Seksjon for arkeologi og
kulturhistorie

Ruben

Department of Geography, Ghent University

Richard
Geir
Vivian
Heidi
Benedikte
Leif Inge

USA/State of Alaska/Office of History and Archaeology

Dept. of geography, NTNU
Museum og Cultural History, University of Oslo
Statens Naturoppsyn (Hjerkinn)
Vitenskapsmuseet
Bergen museum/University of Bergen

Excursion 1-Thursday 7th October 2010

Practical Information
The goal of this excursion is to give participants some insights into the array of natural
and cultural factors that lie behind past snow patch hunting activities and the regions
present-day snow patch collection. The excursion is based around the mountain town of
Oppdal. We will depart from Trondheim at 8am and expect to be back again by 8pm.
There will not be much hiking on this excursion but as we will be outdoors for most of
the day, it is very important that participants are properly dressed for the excursion. Being
so late in the year, we can expect both rain and low temperatures during the trip.
Participants should bring several layers of warm clothing in addition to a water- and
wind-proof outer layer. Gloves and hats are also necessary. Special attention should be
paid to footwear. Hiking boots or similar are advised. Training-shoes are not suitable for
this trip. Binoculars will be handy to bring. We will be serving some hot food along the
way, but a thermos and some snacks are always nice to have too.

Excursion 1 timetable
(In the case of bad weather, we may make changes to this programme.)
Departure Trondheim ca. 0800hrs
The trip to Oppdal takes about 2 hours by bus. There will be guiding along the way.

Arrival base camp 1 ca.1100hrs

We start at base camp 1. From this base we will have a good view over a series of snow
patches in the mountains to the East of Oppdal as well as to the North. Guiding will focus
on the three different aspects of the nearby snow patches and surrounding landscapes i.e.
the archaeology, glasiology/geomorphology and ecology of the area. Warm food will be
served at the main base camp at Orkelsjen where tents and a campfire that will have
been set up in advance.

Departure ca. 1500hrs- Arrival Burial Site at Vang ca. 1530hrs

The cemetery at Vang is one of the largest in Scandinavia from the pre-Christian era. The
site contains around 800 burial structures and was a common burial site for dozens of
local farmsteads for 700 years or more

Departure Vang ca. 1700-1730hrs

Those participating on excursion 2 can check in at the hotel.

Departure Oppdal ca. 1830hrs Arrival Trondheim ca. 2000hrs

Excursion 2-Friday 8th October 2010

Practical Information
This goal of this excursion is to offer participants the opportunity to visit two of the most
prolific find-bearing snow patches in the eastern mountains of Oppdal. We will depart
from Oppdal at 830am and expect to be back in Trondheim again at 8pm by the latest.
This excursion includes the following:
Shared hotel accommodation at Quality Hotel Oppdal (Kr 400 extra for a single
room)
Evening meal at the hotel (7th October)
Breakfast (8th October)
A packed lunch and tea/coffee for the trip
Transport to the eastern mountains
Evening meal at the hotel (8th October)
Return transport to Trondheim
This excursion involves a mild hike into the snow patches. In total, the trip is ca. 14km
long. We will visit two different snow patches, Brattfonna and Kringsollfonna. The
chances are that these patches will be covered by a layer of new snow, but we may also
be lucky enough to visit them in a reduced state.
As is the case with excursion 1, it is important to dress appropriately for this excursion.
Participants should bring several layers of warm clothing in addition to a water- and
wind-proof outer layer. Gloves and hats are also necessary. Special attention should be
paid to footwear. Hiking boots or similar are advised. Training-shoes are not suitable for
this trip. Binoculars will be handy to bring. If participants bring a thermos, the hotel will
supply coffee or tea for the hike.

Excursion 2 Timetable
Departure Oppdal ca. 0830hrs
Arrival Olmtjnin ca. 0900hrs
Hike and visit to Brattfonna and Kringsollfonna
Departure Olmtjnin ca. 1630
Arrival Oppdal ca. 1700hrs
Dinner at Quality Hotel Oppdal
Departure Oppdal ca. 1830hrs
Arrival Trondheim ca. 2000hrs

The Frozen Pasts excursions are a cooperation between the

following partners:
Department of Archaeology and Religious Studies, NTNU
(http://www.ntnu.edu/iar)

Department of Geography, NTNU

(http://www.ntnu.edu/geography)

The Norwegian Wild Reindeer Foundation, Hjerkinn

(http://www.villrein.no/en/)

The Norwegian Nature Inspectorate

(http://english.dirnat.no/)

Fjellviking, Oppdal

Norwegian Prehistory- Chronology

Main Period
Mesolithic

Sub Period
Early Mesolithic
Middle Mesolithic
Late Mesolithic

BC/AD
9500
8000
8000
6500
6500
4000

Early Neolithic
Middle Neolithic
Late Neolithic

4000
3300
2300

3300
2300
1800

Early Bronze Age

Late Bronze Age

1800
1200

1200
500

Pre-Roman Iron
Age
Roman Iron Age
Migration Period
Merovinger Period
Viking Period

500
0
400
570
780

0
400
570
780
1030

Middle Ages

1030

1536

Historical Period

1536

today

(Early Stone Age)

Neolithic
(Late Stone Age)

Bronze Age
Iron Age
Early Iron Age

Late Iron Age

Note: This is a simplified version of the main regional chronology that appears in- Bjerck, H. B. et al
(eds.) 2008: NTNU Vitenskapsmuseets arkeologiske underskelser Ormen Lange Nyhamna. Tapir
Akademisk Forlag. Trondheim. Tabell 3.3. Pg. 82.

Base-camp

Main base-camp