Archaeologists conducting surveys across the Svalbard archipelago have discovered a previously undocumented necropolis containing 45 stone-lined graves, alongside ship timbers and new evidence of historic Pomor activity in the Arctic.
The discoveries were made during the 2026 field season of the Spitsbergen Archaeological Expedition, led by researchers from the Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
This year’s investigations covered large areas of western Spitsbergen and extended to the northern tip of Prins Karls Forland, with the team using non-invasive methods to locate and document archaeological remains.
Norwegian legislation prohibits archaeological excavation and the removal of artefacts at the sites being studied, meaning the expedition focuses on surveys, monitoring and digital documentation.
One of the most significant discoveries was made near Cape Fuglehuken on Prins Karls Forland, where archaeologists identified 45 graves situated on elevated terrain.
The graves feature stone coverings, which researchers say represent an unusual burial tradition when compared with known Pomor funerary practices.
However, the remains of a wooden cross were also discovered in the southern part of the cemetery. Such crosses are associated with Pomor burial sites, raising questions about the cultural identity of those interred there.
The researchers stress that the historical and cultural attribution of the cemetery has yet to be established, although the discovery could provide important new evidence for understanding burial traditions across Svalbard.
Elsewhere, the expedition documented new fragments of historic wooden vessels on Prins Karls Forland and along the western coast of Spitsbergen.
The finds include fragments from four keels and frames containing wooden dowels. On the northern shore of the Sarsa Peninsula, archaeologists also discovered an unusual section of ship planking consisting of two boards joined together with wicker.
Significantly, the fragment was located inland beyond the coastal ridge, in an area containing some of the earliest driftwood deposits on the peninsula.
Researchers also returned to the Pomor settlement and necropolis at Ebeltofthamna on the northern shore of Krossfjorden.
The site consists of three residential complexes and associated burial grounds. Finds exposed along the coastal cliff include a leaf-shaped pectoral cross, Dutch white-clay smoking pipes, fragments of 17th- and 18th-century ceramics, leather footwear and iron objects.
As the artefacts cannot legally be removed, archaeologists created detailed 3D models of the finds directly at the site.
Analysis indicates that Ebeltofthamna was established during the late 17th century and was occupied intermittently throughout the 18th century and into the first half of the 19th century.
The settlement is now under increasing threat from coastal erosion and thawing permafrost.
Surveys conducted in 2025 first documented significant deterioration, while the team’s return in 2026 found that the destruction was continuing rapidly.
Researchers estimate that if environmental processes associated with global warming continue to intensify, the archaeological site could be completely lost within the next few decades.
Erosion is already affecting the nearby Pomor necropolis, where the remains of crosses and two rows of graves survive on a marine terrace.
One burial contained a partially exposed skull, allowing researchers to digitally record the remains and create a 3D model of the facial region. The model was subsequently used to reconstruct the appearance of the individual buried at the site.
The expedition also monitored several established Pomor archaeological sites along Spitsbergen’s western coast. Because of limited access to maritime transport, researchers completed a 60-kilometre journey on foot in a single day to document the condition of the Stabbelva and Gravsjøn settlements.
At Cape Kokerineset, the team also examined an area where Norwegian researchers discovered ship timbers in 2025. The vessel has been provisionally identified as Russian, with archaeologists now seeking access to the recovered material for further study.
The discoveries add to the archaeological record of Svalbard’s historic maritime communities while highlighting the growing threat that coastal erosion and thawing permafrost pose to archaeological sites across the Arctic.
Sources : Russian Academy of Sciences
