Hobby archaeologists Dagsgard and Marstein honored with National Heritage Board award in Norway

Hobby archaeologists Per Dagsgard and Reidar Marstein have made several significant discoveries in the high mountain areas of Nord-Gudbrandsdalen, contributing to new insights about life in Norway from the Stone Age to the present. They are being honored with the National Heritage Board’s cultural heritage award for their efforts in discovering and documenting cultural artifacts related to glacial archaeology. Archaeologist Espen Finstad from Innlandet County describes Dagsgard and Marstein as pioneers in glacial archaeology.

Dagsgard recalls the first finds, which included scare sticks once used by reindeer hunters to guide the animals. Initially, no one recognized their purpose, leading to their return until finally repurposed by his mother as plant stakes. Over time, interest in Dagsgard’s discoveries grew, and today, these scare sticks are displayed in a museum.

The region is renowned for its glacial archaeological finds, hosting more than half of the world’s discoveries in this area. Marstein has uncovered a 3,400-year-old Stone Age shoe, while Dagsgard found a Viking spear. Their pioneering work began gaining attention in the 2000s after significant finds, including Norway’s oldest shoe, which sparked further research.

The recognition of their work comes with the National Heritage Board’s cultural heritage award, previously awarded to notable individuals in the preservation of cultural heritage. The award honors Dagsgard and Marstein for their documentation of human traces over millennia.

Both men maintain a passion for exploring the mountains and the history of those who traversed them before, expressing surprise and appreciation for receiving an award for their hobby, acknowledging the community value of their contributions.