A ‘Treasury of Ice’ goes on show, revealing relics as Swiss glaciers rapidly melt

LUCERNE, Switzerland (AP) — A diverse assortment of relics, including a Roman-era statuette, a mayonnaise tube, and an alpinist's helmet, are displayed in a new exhibit titled "Treasury of Ice" at the Glacier Garden in Lucerne. This exhibit showcases artifacts that have emerged from Switzerland's glaciers, with more expected to be revealed as global warming accelerates the melting process.

Glaciologists have reported a 5.5% decline in Swiss glacier volume this year, marking the second-largest loss on record. Andreas Burri, the exhibit's director, explains that the items are a mix of lost or discarded possessions and provide a glimpse into the variety of objects disappearing as glaciers recede. The exhibit, located in an open-air museum, features a warehouse-like setting with white boxes used to collect and transport the items from the mountains.

Microparticles of pollen, greenhouse gases, and radioactive materials from nuclear tests in the mid-20th century, as well as traces of soot and charcoal from forest fires, are also preserved in the ice, serving as a testament to the glacier's role as an archaeological vault.