5,000-Year-Old Wooden Structures Discovered in Swedish Bog

In a remarkable discovery, archaeologists in Sweden have unearthed a trove of rare prehistoric treasures that have been remarkably well-preserved in a bog for over 5,000 years. The "time capsule" found outside Järna in Gerstaberg includes an array of wooden structures made from logs, piles, and wickerwork, which experts believe were used by Neolithic hunter-gatherer communities to access remote parts of an ancient lake in the area.

Among the artifacts recovered are carved wooden sticks, thought to have been used as walking poles, as well as what may be the remains of baskets or nets used to carry food or catch fish. The natural, oxygen-free conditions of the bog have allowed these organic materials to survive intact, offering a unique window into the lives of these ancient communities.

Experts from Arkeologerna, Sweden's leading archaeological consulting firm, say the wooden structures formed a sophisticated trackway or footbridge system that enabled the hunter-gatherers to traverse the lake and harvest resources like the nutrient-rich sea buckthorn berries that grew along the shoreline. The discovery provides a rare glimpse into the adaptable and resourceful nature of these Neolithic peoples, who relied on the bounty of the land and water to sustain their way of life before the widespread shift to farming.