Norse–Inuit interaction and landscape change in southern Greenland? A geochronological, Pedological, and Palynological investigation
Abstract Ruins representing both medieval Norse and Inuit (Thule culture) settlements can be found together on the coast at Sandhavn (59°59′ N, 44°46′ W), Greenland. The site presents a rare opportunity to investigate the character of past contact and interaction between these two peoples. Soils‐bas...
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crwiley:10.1002/gea.20351 2024-09-30T14:35:48+00:00 Norse–Inuit interaction and landscape change in southern Greenland? A geochronological, Pedological, and Palynological investigation Golding, Kirsty A. Simpson, Ian A. Schofield, J. Edward Edwards, Kevin J. 2011 http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/gea.20351 https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Fgea.20351 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/gea.20351 en eng Wiley http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor Geoarchaeology volume 26, issue 3, page 315-345 ISSN 0883-6353 1520-6548 journal-article 2011 crwiley https://doi.org/10.1002/gea.20351 2024-09-11T04:17:29Z Abstract Ruins representing both medieval Norse and Inuit (Thule culture) settlements can be found together on the coast at Sandhavn (59°59′ N, 44°46′ W), Greenland. The site presents a rare opportunity to investigate the character of past contact and interaction between these two peoples. Soils‐based, radiocarbon, and palynological analyses demonstrate the creation of hortic anthrosols within Norse home‐fields used between the mid‐11th and late 14th centuries A.D. Irrigation channels have been identified within the home‐fields, while rising grass pollen influx reveals intensification in hay production over the period ca. A.D. 1260–1350 despite climatic deterioration setting in around this time. Floor deposits and wall packing from an Inuit winter house returned dates of cal. A.D. 1220–1290 (2σ), yet no direct landscape‐based evidence for Inuit activity could be determined. Although the exact nature of the relationship between Norse and Thule at Sandhavn remains unclear, the role of this site as a harbor and possible trading area may have attracted Inuit settlers keen to participate in European trade networks. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Article in Journal/Newspaper Greenland inuit Thule Thule culture Wiley Online Library Greenland Geoarchaeology 26 3 315 345 |
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English |
description |
Abstract Ruins representing both medieval Norse and Inuit (Thule culture) settlements can be found together on the coast at Sandhavn (59°59′ N, 44°46′ W), Greenland. The site presents a rare opportunity to investigate the character of past contact and interaction between these two peoples. Soils‐based, radiocarbon, and palynological analyses demonstrate the creation of hortic anthrosols within Norse home‐fields used between the mid‐11th and late 14th centuries A.D. Irrigation channels have been identified within the home‐fields, while rising grass pollen influx reveals intensification in hay production over the period ca. A.D. 1260–1350 despite climatic deterioration setting in around this time. Floor deposits and wall packing from an Inuit winter house returned dates of cal. A.D. 1220–1290 (2σ), yet no direct landscape‐based evidence for Inuit activity could be determined. Although the exact nature of the relationship between Norse and Thule at Sandhavn remains unclear, the role of this site as a harbor and possible trading area may have attracted Inuit settlers keen to participate in European trade networks. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Golding, Kirsty A. Simpson, Ian A. Schofield, J. Edward Edwards, Kevin J. |
spellingShingle |
Golding, Kirsty A. Simpson, Ian A. Schofield, J. Edward Edwards, Kevin J. Norse–Inuit interaction and landscape change in southern Greenland? A geochronological, Pedological, and Palynological investigation |
author_facet |
Golding, Kirsty A. Simpson, Ian A. Schofield, J. Edward Edwards, Kevin J. |
author_sort |
Golding, Kirsty A. |
title |
Norse–Inuit interaction and landscape change in southern Greenland? A geochronological, Pedological, and Palynological investigation |
title_short |
Norse–Inuit interaction and landscape change in southern Greenland? A geochronological, Pedological, and Palynological investigation |
title_full |
Norse–Inuit interaction and landscape change in southern Greenland? A geochronological, Pedological, and Palynological investigation |
title_fullStr |
Norse–Inuit interaction and landscape change in southern Greenland? A geochronological, Pedological, and Palynological investigation |
title_full_unstemmed |
Norse–Inuit interaction and landscape change in southern Greenland? A geochronological, Pedological, and Palynological investigation |
title_sort |
norse–inuit interaction and landscape change in southern greenland? a geochronological, pedological, and palynological investigation |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2011 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/gea.20351 https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Fgea.20351 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/gea.20351 |
geographic |
Greenland |
geographic_facet |
Greenland |
genre |
Greenland inuit Thule Thule culture |
genre_facet |
Greenland inuit Thule Thule culture |
op_source |
Geoarchaeology volume 26, issue 3, page 315-345 ISSN 0883-6353 1520-6548 |
op_rights |
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1002/gea.20351 |
container_title |
Geoarchaeology |
container_volume |
26 |
container_issue |
3 |
container_start_page |
315 |
op_container_end_page |
345 |
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1811639038762811392 |