Vanishing Whalers’ Graves: How Climate Change is Erasing Svalbard’s History!
The icy landscapes of Svalbard, a remote Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic, have concealed an extraordinary archaeological treasure for centuries—the graves of European whalers from the 17th and 18th centuries. However, as global temperatures rise, these historical burial sites are rapidly deteriorating, with some even being lost to the sea.
A Race Against Time
Located in Smeerenburgfjorden, within Northwest Spitsbergen National Park, these graves are among the oldest and most vulnerable cultural heritage sites in Svalbard. Around 600 whalers were laid to rest in these permafrost-preserved graves, offering a rare glimpse into Europe’s past. However, climate change is causing permafrost to thaw, destabilising the sites and exposing skeletal remains and textiles to erosion and decay.
Lise Loktu, an archaeologist and researcher at the Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research (NIKU), is leading the project Skeletons in the Closet, which seeks to document and analyse the graves before they disappear. “These graves represent a unique archaeological resource that is rarely preserved elsewhere, either in Europe or the rest of the world,” Loktu explains.
Climate Change Accelerating the Damage
Over the past 30 to 40 years, Svalbard has experienced drastic climate shifts, including rising temperatures, extreme weather, increased precipitation, and intensified coastal erosion. As permafrost melts, the soil becomes more unstable, making burial sites increasingly vulnerable. Coastal erosion, exacerbated by stronger waves and reduced sea ice, accelerates the destruction.
“At Likneset, we have documented many graves being destroyed due to these climate-related changes,” says Loktu. “Coffins are collapsing, leaving skeletal and textile materials exposed to sediment, water, and oxygen. These factors significantly accelerate the microbial decomposition of archaeological remains.”
Photo Credit: Lise Loktu ©Sysselmesteren på Svalbard / NIKU
Unravelling the Lives of 17th- and 18th-Century Whalers
The graves hold valuable insights into the lives of whalers from centuries past. Excavations between 1985 and 1990 yielded significant osteological data, analysed by Elin T. Brødholt from the University of Oslo. The findings reveal details about the health, diet, and social structures of the whalers.
Most whalers came from European countries, including western Norway, where diets were rich in marine food. While whaling was often associated with poverty, evidence suggests social distinctions among the whalers. For example, those buried at Likneset were notably taller than those in other nearby cemeteries, indicating better childhood nutrition and economic conditions.
The skeletal remains also highlight the physically demanding nature of whaling. Many whalers showed signs of malnutrition and disease, with scurvy—a vitamin C deficiency—likely being a leading cause of death. Bone analysis further suggests that these men engaged in strenuous labour from a young age, with significant wear on the upper body. Some of these skeletal adaptations resemble those seen in Inuit populations, implying that certain whalers had specialised roles such as paddling, rowing, or harpooning.
The Urgent Need for Preservation
As these historic graves crumble and some are washed away entirely, researchers fear that irreplaceable historical knowledge could be lost forever. “The graves on Svalbard are now breaking down more rapidly and are gradually being washed into the sea due to erosion,” warns Loktu. “This is about preserving knowledge that would otherwise disappear forever—knowledge that we cannot retrieve from anywhere else.”
The archaeological team is working tirelessly to document and safeguard what remains before it vanishes completely. Their research is not just about preserving the past but ensuring that future generations can learn from the lives and struggles of those who braved the Arctic seas centuries ago.