Travels with Textiles February 2026

In the high regions of the world a race against time is going on to save some of the most important historic textiles yet found. Climate change means that ice and snow is being uncovered for the first time in thousands of years, and clothes and shoes abandoned or lost in the past are turning up at the edge of snowfields perfectly preserved. But unless the archaeologists reach them quickly, they rot away in the water and light. One of the most abundant areas for finds is Norway, where an archaeological programme goes out collecting every summer and has found an extraordinary array of objects. They have rescued a perfectly preserved tunic that is around 2,000 years old, the only pair of pre-historic skis in the world, a single Viking-age mitten as well as Bronze-age arrows and spears, secured with string and cord. Come with us in this episode to hear the Secrets of the Ice from Norway.