@brearkeologi Might be a silly question. Have these things been in the open for a long time? Have they been covered in snow and ice for a long time?

@cakilpack That is in fact a very good question, and hard to answer in a short tweet. You can read about this aspect of the ice finds in this blogpost

@brearkeologi What’s the length of these spades? Might that be a clue to functionality?

@Pobble9 The scale on the photo is 50 cm.

@brearkeologi @conormyhrvold Since both ends appear to be for a specialized purpose, it looks like a tool designed to have utility. It must have been worth the energy cost to pack around. If utility, it could be used for path clearing, leverage generation, predator weapon. Note, a person was walking 24/7.

@brearkeologi @caitlinrgreen An old addage is a barge with enough rowers will travel up hill. Here is your evidence

@brearkeologi @Jamie_Woodward_ Plausible. Possibly they were used for clearing a path or constructing temporary shelters.

@brearkeologi They look like paddles that could double as snow shovels.

@brearkeologi @Cleverestcookie Spades.......or paddles?

@brearkeologi @ETreharne Stirring porridge.

@brearkeologi @jessesingal *looking around the snow* Dammit! I put it down right here.

@brearkeologi Littering Saxons!

@brearkeologi @Jamie_Woodward_ avalanche rescue?

@brearkeologi @NAChristakis Was there ever liquid water up there? Maybe they traveled there in some sort of boat and carried oars with them? Or used as a snow shovel to build a shelter?

@brearkeologi @DetectingDigsUK To chastise naughty high-altitude children, obviously.

@brearkeologi Perhaps also used as a marker in the snow

@brearkeologi @johnjoechad Curry chips doh!

@brearkeologi May be the wives used to keep the husbsnds on right track.