The Bronze Age ax is the first metal object from prehistory ever found in the Norwegian sea.
Norwegian Maritime MuseumThe head of the Bronze Age ax found off the Norwegian coast.
Archaeologists from the Norwegian Maritime Museum recently made a remarkable discovery: a socketed ax from the Bronze Age, found at a depth of about 40 feet off the coast of Arendal, Norway.
This first-of-its-kind discovery was made during a routine survey for the Norwegian Coastal Administration, leaving archaeologists “stunned.”
The Discovery Of The Bronze Age Ax
In an interview with Science Norway, Norwegian archaeologist Jørgen Johannessen described finding the Bronze Age ax during a routine investigation of the region.
The Norwegian Coastal Administration had plans to blast away underwater reefs off the Arendal coast, but requested that the area first be checked for any cultural heritage sites. As part of the effort, Johannessen conducted an underwater survey, during which he found a pile of ballast that captured his attention. According to Johannessen, ballast “was used to stabilize [a] ship during the voyage, especially in rough weather conditions.”
Sailors would load their ships with heavy, weighted materials like stones or sand before setting sail to keep the ship steady. Then, they would typically throw the ballast overboard near the coast. “It was a simple and practical way to get rid of it before loading cargo such as planks,” Johannessen explained.
This practice was particularly common from the 1500s to the 1800s, so Johannessen initially believed this ballast pile came from that time period. However, as he searched the area, he spotted something much older: a five-inch-long bronze ax.
“I immediately knew that it was something special, but the optical effects of the water can deceive you,” he said. “When I came up and laid it on the boat deck, everyone went completely silent.”
A First-Of-Its-Kind Discovery From 1100 B.C.E.
Cultural HeritageAn example of a socketed ax, or “celt,” used during the Bronze Age.
The ax Johannessen found dates back to sometime in the middle Bronze Age, roughly around 1100 B.C.E. It was a special type of tool known as a socketed ax, or “celt,” a hollow ax used throughout the Nordic Bronze Age from 1800 to 500 B.C.E.
As for how this ax wound up in the sea near Arendal, there are two prevailing theories. The first is that the ax was thrown overboard as part of the ballast of a sailing ship, likely sometime in the 19th century.
“The axe likely lay in a grave since the Bronze Age or was lost on the beach. When they were gathering ballast for the ship, they might have picked it up without noticing,” Johannessen said.
The other theory is that the ax came from a shipwreck that would have taken place roughly 3,000 years ago. If that is the case, researchers said, it would be the first Bronze Age shipwreck ever found in Norway.
Researchers scoured the bottom of the seabed, carefully combing it with a metal detector and trowel to make sure they didn’t miss any other potential discoveries before the Norwegian Coastal Administration could begin blasting away the reef. Curiously, they found nothing else of note, meaning the ax had been lying there alone.
Whether or not the ax came from a Bronze Age shipwreck, however, it is still a unique discovery.
“The socketed bronze ax is the first metal artifact from prehistoric times we’ve found in the sea in Norway,” said fellow archaeologist Frode Kvalø.
Now, archaeologists plan to continue their investigation of the area, with hopes that more discoveries lie below the depths.
After reading about the Bronze Age ax found off the coast of Norway, learn more about Norwegian history by reading about the legend of the Kraken. Then, see our list of fascinating Viking facts.
