Archaeologists Unearth Rare 9,000-Year-Old Stone Age Hammer in Norway [View all]

Arkeonews
6 October 2025



Archaeologists in Norway have uncovered a rare and fascinating piece of history: a 9,000-year-old hammer dating back to the Stone Age. The discovery, made during an excavation in Horten, Eastern Norway, offers an extraordinary glimpse into early human life, settlement patterns, and craftsmanship in Scandinavia.

The excavation, led by archaeologist Silje Hårstad from the Museum of Cultural History, revealed not only the hammer but also the remains of a settlement, including traces of a house, thousands of artifacts, and preserved bone fragments. What began as a routine dig before the construction of a bike path has become one of the most significant archaeological finds in the region in recent years.

A Hammer From the Distant Past

The most remarkable discovery from the site is half of a shaft-hole club head, essentially a Stone Age hammer. Unlike an ordinary rock, the stone bore unmistakable signs of human craftsmanship: a carefully drilled hole where a wooden shaft would once have been attached.

“It’s one of the best finds from this site,” said Hårstad. “It was round, slightly oval, with a distinct drilled hole in the middle. It’s obvious that it was shaped by humans.”

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