Investigating the Norse Harbour of Igaliku (Southern Greenland) Using an Integrated System of Side-Scan Sonar and High-Resolution Reflection Seismics
This study presents the results of a marine geophysical survey performed in the Igaliku fjord in southern Greenland in order to understand the harbour setting of the former Norse settlement Garðar (modern Igaliku). The aims of the survey were (a) to reconstruct the former coastline during the first...
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MDPI AG
2019
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3390/rs11161889 https://doaj.org/article/b2ff846f57c947f0a7d4a55d614d97c5 |
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:b2ff846f57c947f0a7d4a55d614d97c5 2023-05-15T16:27:46+02:00 Investigating the Norse Harbour of Igaliku (Southern Greenland) Using an Integrated System of Side-Scan Sonar and High-Resolution Reflection Seismics Dennis Wilken Tina Wunderlich Peter Feldens Joris Coolen John Preston Natascha Mehler 2019-08-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.3390/rs11161889 https://doaj.org/article/b2ff846f57c947f0a7d4a55d614d97c5 EN eng MDPI AG https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/11/16/1889 https://doaj.org/toc/2072-4292 2072-4292 doi:10.3390/rs11161889 https://doaj.org/article/b2ff846f57c947f0a7d4a55d614d97c5 Remote Sensing, Vol 11, Iss 16, p 1889 (2019) Greenland Norse period Garðar side-scan sonar reflection seismics bathymetry Science Q article 2019 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.3390/rs11161889 2022-12-31T16:11:13Z This study presents the results of a marine geophysical survey performed in the Igaliku fjord in southern Greenland in order to understand the harbour setting of the former Norse settlement Garðar (modern Igaliku). The aims of the survey were (a) to reconstruct the former coastline during the first centuries of the Norse settlement period (c. 11/12th centuries) and (b) to search for archaeological remains on the seabed connected to maritime traffic and trade. In order to approach these goals, we used an integrated marine survey system consisting of a side-scan sonar and a reflection seismic system. The system was designed for lightweight transport, allowing measurements in areas that are logistically difficult to access. The side-scan sonar data revealed no remains of clear archaeological origin. Bathymetric data from seismic seabed reflection and additional Differential GPS height measurements yielded a high-resolution bathymetric map. Based on estimates of Holocene relative sea level change, our bathymetry model was used to reconstruct the shift of the high and low-water line since the early Norse period. The reconstructed coastline shows that a small island, which hosts the ruins of a tentative Norse warehouse at the mouth of the present harbour, was connected to the shore at low tide during the early Norse period. In addition, reflection seismics and side-scan sonar images reveal a sheltered inlet with steep slopes on one side of the island, which may have functioned as a landing bridge used to load ships. We also show that the loss of fertile land due to sea level rise until the end of the Norse settlement was insignificant compared to the available fertile land in the Igaliku fjord and is thus not the reason for the collapse of the colony. Article in Journal/Newspaper Greenland Igaliku Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Greenland Igaliku ENVELOPE(-45.421,-45.421,60.988,60.988) Garðar ENVELOPE(-22.667,-22.667,64.750,64.750) Igaliku Fjord ENVELOPE(-45.599,-45.599,60.801,60.801) Remote Sensing 11 16 1889 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Greenland Norse period Garðar side-scan sonar reflection seismics bathymetry Science Q |
spellingShingle |
Greenland Norse period Garðar side-scan sonar reflection seismics bathymetry Science Q Dennis Wilken Tina Wunderlich Peter Feldens Joris Coolen John Preston Natascha Mehler Investigating the Norse Harbour of Igaliku (Southern Greenland) Using an Integrated System of Side-Scan Sonar and High-Resolution Reflection Seismics |
topic_facet |
Greenland Norse period Garðar side-scan sonar reflection seismics bathymetry Science Q |
description |
This study presents the results of a marine geophysical survey performed in the Igaliku fjord in southern Greenland in order to understand the harbour setting of the former Norse settlement Garðar (modern Igaliku). The aims of the survey were (a) to reconstruct the former coastline during the first centuries of the Norse settlement period (c. 11/12th centuries) and (b) to search for archaeological remains on the seabed connected to maritime traffic and trade. In order to approach these goals, we used an integrated marine survey system consisting of a side-scan sonar and a reflection seismic system. The system was designed for lightweight transport, allowing measurements in areas that are logistically difficult to access. The side-scan sonar data revealed no remains of clear archaeological origin. Bathymetric data from seismic seabed reflection and additional Differential GPS height measurements yielded a high-resolution bathymetric map. Based on estimates of Holocene relative sea level change, our bathymetry model was used to reconstruct the shift of the high and low-water line since the early Norse period. The reconstructed coastline shows that a small island, which hosts the ruins of a tentative Norse warehouse at the mouth of the present harbour, was connected to the shore at low tide during the early Norse period. In addition, reflection seismics and side-scan sonar images reveal a sheltered inlet with steep slopes on one side of the island, which may have functioned as a landing bridge used to load ships. We also show that the loss of fertile land due to sea level rise until the end of the Norse settlement was insignificant compared to the available fertile land in the Igaliku fjord and is thus not the reason for the collapse of the colony. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Dennis Wilken Tina Wunderlich Peter Feldens Joris Coolen John Preston Natascha Mehler |
author_facet |
Dennis Wilken Tina Wunderlich Peter Feldens Joris Coolen John Preston Natascha Mehler |
author_sort |
Dennis Wilken |
title |
Investigating the Norse Harbour of Igaliku (Southern Greenland) Using an Integrated System of Side-Scan Sonar and High-Resolution Reflection Seismics |
title_short |
Investigating the Norse Harbour of Igaliku (Southern Greenland) Using an Integrated System of Side-Scan Sonar and High-Resolution Reflection Seismics |
title_full |
Investigating the Norse Harbour of Igaliku (Southern Greenland) Using an Integrated System of Side-Scan Sonar and High-Resolution Reflection Seismics |
title_fullStr |
Investigating the Norse Harbour of Igaliku (Southern Greenland) Using an Integrated System of Side-Scan Sonar and High-Resolution Reflection Seismics |
title_full_unstemmed |
Investigating the Norse Harbour of Igaliku (Southern Greenland) Using an Integrated System of Side-Scan Sonar and High-Resolution Reflection Seismics |
title_sort |
investigating the norse harbour of igaliku (southern greenland) using an integrated system of side-scan sonar and high-resolution reflection seismics |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
publishDate |
2019 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.3390/rs11161889 https://doaj.org/article/b2ff846f57c947f0a7d4a55d614d97c5 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-45.421,-45.421,60.988,60.988) ENVELOPE(-22.667,-22.667,64.750,64.750) ENVELOPE(-45.599,-45.599,60.801,60.801) |
geographic |
Greenland Igaliku Garðar Igaliku Fjord |
geographic_facet |
Greenland Igaliku Garðar Igaliku Fjord |
genre |
Greenland Igaliku |
genre_facet |
Greenland Igaliku |
op_source |
Remote Sensing, Vol 11, Iss 16, p 1889 (2019) |
op_relation |
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/11/16/1889 https://doaj.org/toc/2072-4292 2072-4292 doi:10.3390/rs11161889 https://doaj.org/article/b2ff846f57c947f0a7d4a55d614d97c5 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3390/rs11161889 |
container_title |
Remote Sensing |
container_volume |
11 |
container_issue |
16 |
container_start_page |
1889 |
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1766017289179627520 |