Time capsule of prehistoric treasures unearthed in 5,000-year-old bog

"Archeologists in Sweden have discovered rare prehistoric treasures preserved in bog land for more than 5,000 years. The 'time capsule' found outside Järna in Gerstaberg includes wooden structures made from logs, piles and wickerwork. Experts at Arkeologerna, Sweden's leading consultant on archaeology, say it formed structures used by hunter-gatherers to get across a lake. They also unearthed carved wooden sticks - thought to have been used as walking poles - and what may be the remains of baskets used to carry food or nets used to catch fish."

"Remains like this have been been amazingly well-preserved by the natural oxygen-free conditions of a bog, experts say. With pH levels similar to vinegar, bog acids have the ability to conserve even human bodies in the same way fruit is preserved by pickling. The remains of the wooden bridge could be pieced together for tourists to virtually walk across. 'The work will be documented with films on social media,' a spokesperson at Arkeologerna told Heritage Daily."

"'When the project is complete, the wooden structures and the surrounding environment will be recreated in 3D, so that we can all take a digital walk straight into the Stone Age.' Experts think the bridge was used by Neolithic hunter-gatherer communities, who travelled vast distances in the search for foraged food. Hunter-gatherer behaviours came before the widescale shift to farming - a revolutionary change that let communities stay in one spot."

Archaeologists discovered prehistoric wooden structures and artifacts in a Swedish bog, preserved for over 5,000 years. The site outside Järna in Gerstaberg contains logs, piles, wickerwork, carved wooden sticks, and possible baskets or fishing nets. The structures appear to form a bridge or crossing used by Neolithic hunter-gatherers to traverse an ancient lake. Bog conditions—oxygen-poor, acidic with pH levels similar to vinegar—have conserved organic materials and even human bodies. The wooden bridge can be digitally reconstructed and presented via films and 3D recreations for virtual visits. Sea buckthorn grew along the ancient lakeshore and provided nutrient-rich berries commonly used as food.

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