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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fthcommons:oai:hcommons.org/hc:26307 2024-09-30T14:35:52+00:00 Investigating the Norse Harbour of Igaliku (Southern Greenland) Using an Integrated System of Side-Scan Sonar and High-Resolution Reflection Seismics Natascha Mehler 2019 https://doi.org/10.17613/syjv-5z98 unknown http://dx.doi.org/10.17613/syjv-5z98 812938:Archaeology:topical 813004:Archaeology and history:topical 2019 fthcommons https://doi.org/10.17613/syjv-5z98 2024-09-17T00:50:41Z 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. Other/Unknown Material Greenland Igaliku Humanities Commons CORE Deposits 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) |
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Humanities Commons CORE Deposits |
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unknown |
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812938:Archaeology:topical 813004:Archaeology and history:topical |
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812938:Archaeology:topical 813004:Archaeology and history:topical 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 |
812938:Archaeology:topical 813004:Archaeology and history:topical |
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. |
author |
Natascha Mehler |
author_facet |
Natascha Mehler |
author_sort |
Natascha Mehler |
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 |
publishDate |
2019 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.17613/syjv-5z98 |
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_relation |
http://dx.doi.org/10.17613/syjv-5z98 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.17613/syjv-5z98 |
_version_ |
1811639095512793088 |