Vitenskapsmuseet: SPARC
SPARC- The effects of climate change on vulnerable alpine heritage environments
SPARC focuses on perennial alpine snow patches as long-term hunting environments. In certain regions, PSPs have been shown to contain important prehistoric artefacts, ecofacts and sites. The low-temperature conditions associated with these sites make for excellent preservation allowing organic remains to survive within the ice, sometimes for thousands of years. Many alpine snow patches are now melting away and important cultural and climatic specimens and information are being subjected to exposure and deterioration.
The SPARC project is fundamentally multidisciplinary, combining studies and analysis from archaeology, glaciology, DNA studies, conservation science and cultural heritage management. The project is organized in six distinct but interrelated work packages.
The SPARC project addresses a set of interrelated challenges regarding on-going developments in these high-mountain environments, both internationally and in Norway in particular.
Firstly, there is the challenge of securing information related to ancient artefacts and heritage environments and uncovering their cultural historical and environmental significance.
Secondly, the project will investigate the present condition and development of snow patches as natural systems in order to be able to ascertain their potential as archives of climatic information, and predict future challenges regarding heritage preservation.
Thirdly, the project’s results will be synthesized in a set of recommendations and guidelines that will aid heritage management, organization and public/ professional dissemination in the future.
Ultimately, SPARC aims to develop an inter-disciplinary methodology to contribute new research-based knowledge to effectively address the complex, inter-related and multidimensional challenges posed by archaeological and ecological snow patches.
In order to strengthen the Norwegian research base, SPARC brings together a number of national and international research institutions that will contribute to this glacial archaeological project.
Our hope is that SPARC will become a focal point for research exchange both nationally and with other regions of the world where such environments are recognized.
Contact point: Birgitte Skar
The project runs from 2011-2017
The project is funded by The Norwegian research Council (RCN), the Directorate for Cultural Heritage and The Directorate for Nature Management and is a project within The University Museums collaborative research program.
References of relevance to the project
Bretten, T. 2003. Nye Funn. Flere pilspisser fra Oppdalsfjella. SPOR (2) 13.
Bretten, T. & Røtvei, J. 2004. Jakthistorie opp av isen i Oppdal. Mange nye funn av jaktpiler og pilespisser. Villreinen. Villreinrådet i Norge. 43-46.
Callanan, M. 2010. Northern Snow Patch Archaeology. In Westerdahl, C. (ed.), A Circumpolar Reappaisal: The Legacy of Gutorm Gjessing (1906-1979). BAR International Series 2154. Archaeopress. Oxford. 43-54.
Callanan, M. 2012b. Oppzi- en ismann fra oppdalsfjella? Bøgda vår. Oppdal historielag. 79-85.
Callanan, M, Berthling, I. & Vatne, G. 2010. Fonn og bre. SPOR (2). 36-38.
Farbregd, O. 1991. Gamle jaktpiler i snøfonner. Bom i jakta-arkeologisk fulltreff. SPOR (2). 4-10.
Farbregd, O. & Beverfjord, A. 2000. Nye Funn-Finnarlykke i fjellet. SPOR (2). 50-51.
Farbregd, O. 2009. Archery History from Ancient Snow and Ice. In Brattli, T. (ed.) The 58th International Sachsensymposium. 1-5 september 2007. Vitark 7. Tapir akademisk forlag. 156-170.
Kristiansen, J. 2013. Veien til 3D-modellering av en isfonn ved hjelp av GIS og Geografysiske metoder. Unpublished MA thesis in Geography. Dept. of Geography. NTNU. Trondheim.
Martinsen, J. R. P. 2012. Ice Patches as Archaeological Contexts- A multidisciplinary approach. Unpublished MA thesis in Archaeology. Dept. of Archaeology and Religious Studies. NTNU. Trondheim.
Rognstad, A. J. 2013. En massebalansestudie av to arkeologiske isfonner I Oppdalsområdet. Unpublished MA thesis in Geography. Dept. of Geography. NTNU. Trondheim.
Røed, K. H., Bjørnstad, G., Flagstad, Ø., Haanes, H. Hufthammer, A. K., Jordhøy, P. & Rosvold, J. 2014. Ancient DNA reveals prehistoric habitat fragmentation and recent introgression into native wild reindeer. Conservation Genetics. 15. 1137-1149. Springer.
Åstveit, L. I. 2007. Høyfjellsarkeologi under snø og is. Viking LXX. 7-22.
In the media
Racing the Thaw (Science. October 2014)
Where did Norway’s reindeer come from? (Science Nordic. May 2014)
Ancient artefacts found in melting snow. (BBC News. August 2013)
Ancient snow patches melting at record speed (phys.org. February 2015)
Urgamle snøfonner smelter i rekordfart (gemini.no. February 2015)
SPARC Participants
Birgitte Skar (Project Manager)
Ivar Berthling (Associate Professor)
Martin Callanan (Post Doc)
Linda Kristiansen Jarrett (PhD fellow)
Elizabeth Peacock (Professor)
Jørgen Rosvold (Post Doc)
Geir Vatne (Associate Professor)
Per Åke Persson (Associate Professor)
Scientific Advisory Board
- Prof. Albert Hafner, Univ. of Bern, Switzerland.
- E. James Dixon, Maxwell Museum of Anthropology, Albuquerque, U.S.A.
- Tom Andrews, Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, Canada.
- Richard VanderHoek, Alaska State, Alaska, USA.
- Valery Monahan, Yukon Govt, Yukon, Canada.
- Greg Hare, Yukon Govt, Yukon, Canada.
- Prof. Stephan Gruber, Univ. of Zürich, Switzerland.
- Prof.Christian Hauck, Univ. of Fribourg, Switzerland.
- Stefan Gruber, Carlton University, Canada
Activity, SPARC
Callanan, Martin,
The Neolithic Cometh. Oral presentation. 3rd Frozen Pasts International Glacial Archeology Symposium, Whitehorse, Canada. June 2012.
Callanan, Martin, Bretten, Tord, Panzacchi, Manuela & Strand, Olav,
Tuning in to Radio Rangifer. Oral presentation. 3rd Frozen Pasts International Glacial Archeology Symposium, Whitehorse, Canada. June 2012.
Callanan, Martin Eugene; Rosvold, Jørgen,
Following the Arrows- Antler Points and aDNA. Alaska Anthropological Association Annual Conference. Anchorage. March 2013.
Callanan, Martin,
Bronze Age Artefacts from Snow Patches in central Norway. Oral Presentation. UISPP World Congress. Burgos Spain. September 2014.
Callanan, Martin,
Uncovering The Frozen Past- Surveying & Monitoring Glacial Archaeological Sites. Oral Presentation. UISPP World Congress. Burgos Spain. September 2014
Callanan, Martin, Skar, Birgitte, Vatne, Geir, Solli, Brit, Peacock, Elizabeth E. & Berthling, Ivar,
SPARC-Snow Patch Archaeological Research Cooperation. Poster Presentation. 3rd Frozen Pasts International Glacial Archeology Symposium, Whitehorse, Canada. June 2012.
Hamill, Jane, Peacock, Elizabeth E., Callanan, Martin, & Vatne, Geir,
The Snow Patch Archaeological Research Cooperation (SPARC): climate change and vulnerable high mountain heritage artefacts. Poster Presentation. The 12th ICOM-CC WOAM (Wet Organic Archaeological Materials) Conference. May 2013.
Kristiansen, Linda, Vatne, Geir & Berthling, Ivar,
Glacier or snowpatch. Oral presentation. 3rd Frozen Pasts International Glacial Archeology Symposium, Whitehorse, Canada. June 2012.
Peacock, Elizabeth E.,
The Potential Contribution of Artefact Taphonomy to Snow Patch Research. Oral Presentation. Frozen Pasts: 3rd International Glacial Archaeology Symposium. Whitehorse, Canada. June 2012.
Peacock, Elizabeth E.,
Snow patch wooden artefacts from Norway: preservation and taphonomy. Oral Presentation. The 12th ICOM-CC WOAM (Wet Organic Archaeological Materials) Conference. May 2013.
Peacock, Elizabeth E. Turner-Walker, Gordon,
The Potential Contribution of Artefact Taphonomy to Snow Patch Research. Oral Presentation IPHC Conference: The Future of Polar Heritage. May 2014.
Rosvold, Jørgen.
Smeltende natur- og kulturhistoriske databanker. Naturverdier under press. Oral Presentation. Miljø 2015 konferansen. November 2014.
Solli, Brit,
Funn fra fonner i fjellet - Hva kan de fortelle? Oral Presentation. Markedets makt? Handel, håndverk og råvarer i vikingtid og tidlig middelalder. Oslo. December 2013.
Solli, Brit,
Isens arkeologi - "...å veide ren på fonnen...". Oral Presentation. Norsk Arkeologisk Selskap. Generalforsamling. Oslo. March 2014.
Vatne, Geir, Kristiansen, Linda, & Berthling, Ivar,
A glaciological explanation to the spatial distribution of snow patch finds in Central Norway. Oral presentation. 3rd Frozen Pasts International Glacial Archeology Symposium, Whitehorse, Canada. June 2012.
Vatne, Geir,
På jakt etter Norges eldste is.... Oral Presentation. NGF Trondheim seminarrekke. November 2013.