Archaeologists have found new fragments of what is thought to be the world’s sole surviving Viking Age packhorse net, adding to a groundbreaking discovery first unearthed over a decade ago. The rare find was made in Jotunheimen National Park in Norway, where melting ice continues to reveal artifacts from centuries past.
The packhorse net story began in 2011 when glacier archaeologists with the Secrets of the Ice program spotted a strange set of wood pieces and leather straps in a high-altitude ice patch. Following careful inspection, they discovered traces of a framed leather net that had once been strapped onto a horse’s back to transport goods across Norway’s mountain passes. Radiocarbon analysis confirmed the artifact to be around 1,000 years old, firmly placing it in the Viking Age. Experts described it as the only such example dated from that time.
Now, during a recent field season, the same team returned to the original site and uncovered more fragments of the net.
The team explained on their official Facebook page that they were working at the site this August, having been previously hampered by heavy snowfall. “We last worked here back in 2012, but heavy snow kept our finds to a minimum then,” the team said. “This year, with lighter snow, we are hopeful for more discoveries!” Their patience paid off when several new fragments were found wedged between rocks at the melting edge of the glacier. The photographs released by the project show frayed but intact leather loops and knotted sections of the net.
Archaeologist Lars Pilø of Secrets of the Ice noted that the newly discovered fragments are most likely part of the same net.
Artifacts like the packhorse net are very rare, as they were made of organic materials like wood and leather, which break down very quickly in open environments. However, the ice formed a natural time capsule. With low oxygen and low temperatures, organic items can be preserved for centuries until the glaciers retreat and expose them to air once again.
Packhorses were essential for transport during the Viking Age, allowing people to carry heavy loads over mountainous terrain that would otherwise have been impassable. Nets like this one continued in use in parts of Norway until relatively recent times, supporting archaeologists’ interpretation of its function.
The find joins a growing collection of artifacts discovered by the Secrets of the Ice project as Norwegian glaciers melt. In addition to hunting gear such as arrows, bows, and spears, the team has discovered domestic items, including a 3,400-year-old hide shoe, Viking mittens, Iron Age tunics, and even a wooden whisk. These artifacts provide insight into how people lived, traveled, and survived at high elevations.
Surveys at Jotunheimen National Park continue, and archaeologists are certain that there are still more secrets hidden beneath the ice.
More information: Secrets of the Ice
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