A recent excavation of the underwater site in Northern Norway exposed an astounding deep-sea cache of animal remains, 75,000 years in the making. Finds from the Arne Qvamgrotta cave on Norway’s rugged coastline are intriguing. It displays the skeletal remains of 46 different species, including both extinct and extant taxa. This remarkable discovery offers scientists an unparalleled view of a once-thriving Arctic ecosystem.
The excavation was led by an interdisciplinary research team headed by Professor Sanne Boessenkool from the University of Oslo. Finding the earliest roots This marathon excavation has resulted from two major projects in 2021 and 2022. Though found in the 1990s, the cave was left mostly unexplored for nearly 30 years. The results highlight the incredible biodiversity present in the region. This actually became apparent at a time when the Arctic looked radically different than it does today.
A Diverse Fauna from the Past
Inside Arne Qvamgrotta, scientists found a more remarkable collection of animal bones. It’s home to polar bears, walruses and bowhead whales, as well as abundant birds like Atlantic puffins and common eiders. Significantly, the team recognized rock ptarmigans and Atlantic cod amongst the discoveries. These finds highlight an incredible array of creatures, many adapted to life in the sea as well as on land.
“The cave has now revealed a diverse mix of animals in a coastal ecosystem representing both the marine and the terrestrial environment.” – Professor Sanne Boessenkool
Beyond the species we see today, investigators discovered remnants of collared lemmings—an animal that has since gone extirpated in Europe. This remarkable find shines a light on how Arctic wildlife adapted over the ages. It highlights the ways various species have thrived despite—or failed to adjust amidst—climate shifts.
Implications for Climate Studies
The importance of this finding goes well beyond historical curiosity. It has serious consequences for today’s conservation work. Together, the bones give us an extremely rare look into how wildlife adapted to and managed extremely dramatic climate changes in the past. Our goal is for these responses to help inform ongoing and future conservation efforts as the Arctic remains on the front lines of a changing climate.
Habitat fragmentation has become much worse since the time of these megafauna. Today, we are forcing populations to adapt as they never had to before with movement and adaptability. These findings speak to an immediate need for conservation action that takes these historical lessons into account.
“And these are cold-adapted species—so if they struggled to cope with colder periods in the past, it will be even harder for these species to adapt to a warming climate.” – Professor Boessenkool
The findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, with the research cited as: Walker, Samuel J. et al., “A 75,000-y-old Scandinavian Arctic cave deposit reveals past faunal diversity and paleoenvironment.” The paper has PNAS DOI 10.1073/pnas.2415008122 which facilitates future research for all.
The Research and Its Publication
Watch as Dr. Sam Walker, the paper’s co-author discuss, what their findings mean going forward.
Dr. Sam Walker, a co-author of the study, elaborates on the implications of their findings.
“These discoveries provide a rare snapshot of a vanished Arctic world.” – Dr. Sam Walker
He adds that this research has broader relevance:
“This highlights how cold-adapted species struggle to adapt to major climatic events. This has a direct link to the challenges they are facing in the Arctic today as the climate warms at a rapid pace.” – Dr. Walker