Archaeologists in eastern Norway have made a remarkable discovery that illuminates the sophisticated craftsmanship of our Stone Age ancestors. During an excavation in Horten, where forest land will soon make way for a bicycle path, researchers uncovered half of a rare 9,000-year-old shaft-hole hammer that demonstrates the precision and patience of ancient toolmakers.
According to a Science Norway report, the discovery represents more than just an ancient tool - it provides crucial evidence of a significant cultural shift that occurred during the middle period of the Early Stone Age, when hunter-gatherers began transitioning from nomadic lifestyles to more settled communities. Alongside the hammer, archaeologists recovered over 5,000 artifacts from what appears to have been a thriving settlement positioned along an ancient shoreline that was once 70 meters higher than today's sea level.
"It's one of the best finds from this site," explained archaeologist Silje Hårstad from the Museum of Cultural History, who led the excavation. The hammer head is "round, slightly oval, with a distinct drilled hole in the middle where a shaft was once attached. It's obvious that it was shaped by humans."
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The hammer is a sophisticated design and manufacture for the period. (Silje Hårstad/Kulturhistorisk museum/Forskning)
Masterful Stone Age Engineering
The precision evident in this ancient hammer reveals remarkable technological sophistication. The shaft hole was meticulously drilled from both sides of the stone, creating a tapered design that was widest at the edges and narrower toward the center. This engineering technique required considerable skill and knowledge of stone-working principles.
Ancient craftspeople likely used a hollow deer or moose bone, cut at the ends, as their drilling implement. Combined with sand, water, and extraordinary patience, they managed to penetrate completely through the stone. "It's nicely crafted," Hårstad noted, emphasizing the level of skill required for such work 9,000 years ago.
The hammer bears light wear and crushing marks on one side, indicating it served practical purposes rather than purely ceremonial functions. "It may have been used to pound something, like softening fibers. It's essentially a Stone Age hammer," Hårstad explained. This dual nature - both functional tool and potentially symbolic object - reflects the complex role such implements played in Stone Age society.
Rare Archaeological Treasures
Shaft-hole hammers represent some of the rarest finds from the Stone Age period. According to Knut Andreas Bergsvik, a Stone Age expert at the University of Bergen, these implements can be categorized into three distinct types. The Horten discovery falls into the simpler category, but archaeologists have also uncovered more elaborate examples shaped like stars or crosses, some featuring intricate decorative engravings.
Approximately 12 percent of known shaft-hole hammers feature decorations such as carved lines, borders, or figured representations. Many have been discovered in bogs or deliberately deposited in bodies of water, suggesting they held special significance beyond their practical applications.
“The more ornate designs, like star shapes, don’t appear practical for working the soil. They must have carried symbolic significance,” Bergsvik observed.
Examples of star-shaped club heads from the Stone Age. These were found in Western Norway in the 1940s. (Photo: Museum of Archaeology / Unimusportal / CC BY-NC-ND 3.0)
Archaeological evidence suggests these tools may have served as status symbols for particularly skilled hunters who achieved leadership positions within their communities. The rarity of complete examples makes the Horten discovery especially valuable for understanding Stone Age technology and social structures.
Some shaft-hole hammers have even been crafted from organic materials, including whale bone and wood, leading researchers to speculate that such objects may have been much more common than the archaeological record suggests, since organic materials rarely survive at settlement sites.
Part of an axe blade from an almost fully polished axe found at the site. (Photo: Silje Hårstad / Museum of Cultural History)
Evidence of Cultural Transformation
The Horten site provides exceptional insight into a pivotal moment in prehistoric Scandinavia. The settlement exists from a period when Stone Age peoples were transitioning from highly mobile hunter-gatherer lifestyles to more sedentary communities. This cultural shift is evidenced by the permanent house foundations, extensive artifact collections, and evidence of intensive fishing activities.
"Not long before this settlement was used, people were more mobile. They moved over greater distances and did little fishing," Bergsvik explained. By 9,000 years ago, however, "people stayed in one place longer and returned to the same places. Homes became sturdier, fishing increased, and people crafted new objects."
The site yielded fragments of fishhooks - themselves unusual finds in Stone Age contexts - along with bone remains, stone axes, and tools made from rock crystal. Archaeologists discovered traces of a small dwelling, approximately 10 square meters, positioned at the settlement's highest point. The house featured stone-lined fireplaces and may have had bark mat flooring.
Left; Fishhooks and bones. Right; Tool made of rock crystal. (Silje Hårstad / Museum of Cultural History)
Analysis of thousands of burnt bone fragments will reveal the dietary preferences of these ancient inhabitants. At nearby contemporary sites, evidence suggests people consumed primarily seafood including seabirds, seals, whales, and fish, though researchers remain curious whether the Horten inhabitants also hunted terrestrial animals the report reveals.
Preserving Ancient Memories
Finding 9,000-year-old organic remains in eastern Norway is extraordinarily rare due to acidic soil conditions that typically destroy such materials quickly. The exceptional preservation at Horten has created what Hårstad describes as "a little time capsule" offering unprecedented insight into Stone Age life.
For precise dating, archaeologists will carbon-date charred hazelnuts found throughout the site. Stone Age peoples were particularly fond of hazelnuts, and some theories suggest they actively managed hazel trees to ensure good harvests. Unlike wood, which can represent hundreds of years of growth, hazelnuts represent single seasons, making them ideal for accurate chronological dating.
The intensive activity evidenced at the site - from the substantial artifact layers to the investment in permanent housing - suggests this location held special significance for its ancient inhabitants. "All these finds point to a period of intense activity, enough to build up these layers of artefacts and bone remains," Hårstad noted.
"This is one of the most enjoyable excavations I've ever taken part in from this period," Hårstad reflected. The Horten discovery not only provides a rare example of Stone Age craftsmanship but also illuminates a crucial transition period when our ancestors began establishing the foundations of settled life that would eventually lead to agricultural societies.
Top image: Stone Age hammer with precisely drilled shaft hole from both sides. Source: Silje Hårstad/Museum of Cultural History
By Gary Manners
References
Bergsvik, K.A. 2025. Rare 9,000-year-old Stone Age hammer discovered in Norway. Available at: https://www.sciencenorway.no/stone-age-archaeology-culture/archaeologists-have-found-a-rare-9000-year-old-stone-age-hammer-in-norway/2556360
Hårstad, S. 2025. Norske arkeologer fant 9000 år gammel sjelden hammer fra steinalderen. Available at: https://www.forskning.no/arkeologi-steinalder/norske-arkeologer-fant-9000-ar-gammel-sjelden-hammer-fra-steinalderen/2554572
