On a Mountain High: Finding and Documenting Glacial Archaeological Sites During the Anthropocene

Abstract

Glacial archaeology is a developing field, brought on by climate change. High mountain ice is melting, which has led to the exposure of artifacts in North America, Mongolia, the Alps, and Scandinavia. The highest number of finds and sites in the world are reported from Innlandet County, Norway. We present our methods of finding and documenting glacial archaeological sites in Innlandet based on 15 years of experience. Sites are found using a combination of local information on the ground and remote sensing. Fieldwork takes place in three steps: an exploratory survey for assessment, systematic surveys for documentation, and monitoring in case of further ice retreat. The harsh environment makes the logistics very different from regular archaeology at lower elevations. Fieldwork methods are described in detail. The continuing retreat of mountain ice worldwide makes the Innlandet experience increasingly pertinent to the practice of field archaeology.