Independence I and Saqqaq

Abstract

The first hunting societies migrated via High Arctic Canada into Greenland around 4,500 years ago. Known archaeologically as Independence I and Saqqaq, they settled the entire island within a remarkably short time span: Independence in the High Arctic (Thule area, Peary Land, and northeast Greenland) and Saqqaq in the other coastal areas of the island. Two permanently frozen Saqqaq sites in Disko Bugt, west Greenland, with excellent preservation conditions for organic artifacts, have yielded unique insight into the material culture, subsistence economy, daily life, and settlement patterns of these Paleoeskimo pioneers. After a few centuries, High Arctic Greenland was abandoned, and the Saqqaq seemingly became isolated from other societies in the Eastern Arctic. Nevertheless, Saqqaq thrived at least on the central west coast until 2,800 years ago, thus representing the hitherto longest-lasting continuous settlement period in Greenland.