Melting of an ice sheet in Norway has revealed an incredibly well-preserved pair of ski boards that have stood untouched for nearly 1,300 years. The archaeologists who made this discovery believe they may be the best-preserved pair of ski boards discovered from prehistory to date.
The first of the ski boards was discovered seven years ago on the Digervarden ice slope in Innlandet county, Norway, by Secrets of the Ice, a team of glacial archaeologists investigating receding ice sheets for long-lost treasures. Satellite images had revealed that this piece of ice had receded by a large amount once again this summer, so the team returned on September 20 and discovered a second board just 5 meters from the original find site.
Espen Finstad / secretsoftheice. comGetting the second ski board off the ice was a bit of a challenge. The team returned one day when the weather was better, armed with pickaxes and equipment for boiling water. Eventually, the second ski board was also unearthed.
With a length of 187 centimeters and a width of 17 centimeters, the ski board measured approximately 17 centimeters longer and slightly wider than the first example discovered. However, it can be seen that they are both part of a pair, as they are made of three twisted birch ties, a leather strap, and a wooden plug. In addition, there are traces of repair on the foot, indicating frequent use of skis, and a missing tread, probably due to damage over the centuries.
Espen Finstad / secretsoftheice. comWhile evidence of Iron Age skiing like this is rare, it is known that skiing in Scandinavia dates back at least 4,000 years. It can be speculated that it probably evolved as a practical way of traveling between snow-covered plains and hills, rather than as a recreational sport for fun-loving hunter-gatherers.
In particular, archaeologists are wondering what caused these boards to be abandoned on Mount Othervarden about 1,300 years ago. If the ex-skier had to abruptly give up his trip due to heavy snowfall, he would likely have left his skis upright in the snow to make it easier to spot when they returned to the area. It is also unlikely that an Iron Age hunter-gatherer would abandon an item of such craftsmanship and value unless absolutely necessary.
These ski boards were left in an uneven, chaotic manner. This raises the possibility of two options: Either the planks were shattered by a small avalanche or the skier was fatally injured. Researchers aren’t sure yet, but they said they’ll be examining the ice around Mount Othervarder closely for the remains of an unfortunate skier.
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