Archaeology of Svalbard

The archaeology of Svalbard is the study of human activity in the northerly Arctic Ocean archipelago's past. The geography, environment and climate of Svalbard have together created a very special situation for the recovery and analysis of the material culture left behind by previous generations. This goes two ways, positively and negatively – on one hand, the level of preservation is high, due to the remoteness of many sites and the polar semi-desert climate vastly slowing down the process of biological decomposition.

On the other hand, that same geographical isolation and harsh environment frequently makes archaeological fieldwork both expensive and physically challenging. In modern times, both these factors are however rapidly changing. New technology and improved infrastructure has allowed easier access for researchers, which has also put many historical remains at risk due to accidental damages caused by tourists, and rapid climate change – with a new, warmer, more humid environment – likewise poses large risks.

Rather than being managed by the Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage as standard in most of Norway, the Governor of Svalbard is responsible for all historical sites and all archaeological work on Svalbard, much as the Sami Parliament is responsible for managing Sami-related cultural heritage. All cultural heritage sites or objects originating from 1946 or before are automatically protected by law, a rule applying to all types of remains.

The scientific field of archaeology has a relatively long history in Svalbard, beginning as early as 1861. At the time, Svalbard was legally terra nullius, historically claimed by many countries but controlled by none. A decade before the first attempt at a permanent settlement in the archipelago, amateur research was carried out by many of the natural scientists exploring the region at the time. This first period of archaeological activity on Svalbard lasted until about 1913, before most scientific expeditions were halted by World War I. Between 1861 and 1913, people like the geologist Gerard De Geer mainly investigated the 18th century hunting camps of the Pomors, with for example the physicist studying graves at the Dutch 17th century whaling station Virgohamna during the Swedish-Russian Arc-of-Meridian Expedition. Due to the methods used in surveying these sites, the results have little scientific value today.

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Wikipedia