Archaeologists have uncovered the remains of a young child who lived about 4,000 years ago in a cave on Norway’s west coast.
The remarkable discovery is giving researchers a rare chance to learn more about some of the country’s earliest farming communities and how they lived thousands of years ago.
The excavation was carried out by researchers from the University of Bergen at a site called Skipshelleren, a large rock shelter located in a fjord near the city of Bergen.
The findings are part of the INDICAVE research project, which is exploring caves and rock shelters along Norway’s coastline to better understand the people who once lived there.
Skipshelleren has been used by humans for more than 7,500 years. Because the shelter is naturally protected from wind and rain, it has preserved ancient remains unusually well.
This makes it one of the most valuable archaeological sites in Norway.
Researchers say dry caves like Skipshelleren can preserve bones, tools, and other materials that would normally disappear over time. These discoveries can reveal what ancient people ate, how they lived, and how they used the cave.
The site was first excavated in 1931, and experts believed there was nothing left to discover. However, while studying old excavation records, the research team noticed that one small section had never been fully explored.
When they returned to investigate, they found thick layers of untouched soil containing thousands of ancient objects. The team uncovered around 40,000 animal bones, stone tools, bone tools, and pieces of pottery that had been buried for thousands of years.
One of the most exciting discoveries was the grave of a young child from the later Stone Age. By studying the skull, researchers believe the child was between two and four years old when they died.
The discovery also solved a mystery dating back more than 70 years. In 1955, a local girl named Bjørg Dæmring Berge found part of a child’s skeleton at the site.
During the recent excavation, she helped archaeologists identify the exact location of her earlier discovery. This allowed the team to recover additional bones that belonged to the same child.
The burial shows that Skipshelleren was more than just a place to live. It was also used as a burial site, giving researchers new clues about the beliefs and customs of Stone Age people.
Scientists will now carry out several laboratory studies on the newly discovered remains. DNA testing may reveal what the child and the surrounding population looked like and whether their ancestors came from other parts of Europe. Isotope analysis could also provide information about the child’s diet and lifestyle.
Researchers will also study the thousands of animal bones, soil samples, ancient plant remains, and traces of ancient DNA preserved in the cave. Together, these discoveries will help build a clearer picture of daily life along Norway’s coast thousands of years ago.
The team hopes the findings will deepen our understanding of how the first farming communities settled in Norway and how they adapted to life in the rugged northern landscape.
Source: University of Bergen.
