Sheets of ice along the Arctic have continued to melt at alarming rates and with that melting has come a new discovery. Archaeologists at a melt site in Norway have discovered a wealth of items that include weapons and shoes among other everyday items. The find is believed to be from thousands of years ago, well before Vikings roamed the area.

As glaciers continue to melt and ice retreats in areas around the world, archaeologists continue to discover new civilizations. As io9 points out, last summer a 10,000 year-old atlatl (a hunting weapon) was found as ice thawed.

Researchers must work at break neck speeds to gather items which can rot in just a few short days after thawing from their icy tombs.

Among the items they are attempting to preserve is a 3400 year old leather shoe, a perfectly preserved arrow complete with feather and even ancient smells released from preserved reindeer droppings.

The front edge of this particular glacier has retreated 18 meters in the last year, making the race against collecting artifacts a desperate one for archaeologists in the area as some items are destroyed before they are discovered.

Here’s a picture of the ancient leather shoe:

I wonder what ancient reindeer poop smells like.