Research | Forskning - peer review

An archaeological survey of Kitsissut, a remote island cluster in the High Arctic of Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland), has revealed a human pres- ence almost 4500 years ago, during the formation of a vital marine environment—Pikialasorsuaq polynya. Kitsissut is accessible only by a difficult open-water… An archaeological survey of Kitsissut, a remote island cluster in the High Arctic of Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland), has revealed a human pres- ence almost 4500 years ago, during the formation of a vital marine environment—Pikialasorsuaq polynya. Kitsissut is accessible only by a difficult open-water journey, and repeated occupation thus permits inferences on the sophistication of water- craft technology and navigational skill. Here, the authors argue that this demonstrable reach of Early Paleo-Inuit communities across marine and terres- trial ecosystems enhances our understanding of their lifeways and environmental legacy, raising critical new questions about Indigenous agency in shaping emerging Arctic ecosystems. Read more

Research | Forskning

In the High Arctic, recent acceleration of geomorphological processes is having extreme impact on archaeological landscapes. In this paper, we consider implication for circumpolar archaeology, and focus analysis on a study area of critical importance to the local Inughuit community at Siorapaluk – a… In the High Arctic, recent acceleration of geomorphological processes is having extreme impact on archaeological landscapes. In this paper, we consider implication for circumpolar archaeology, and focus analysis on a study area of critical importance to the local Inughuit community at Siorapaluk – a small settlement in Northwest Greenland. Using a combination of ground survey, historical satellite images, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), we analyze damage zones to understand the character, timing, and extent of destruction. Three types of geomorphological processes are identified as causing significant damage, including: 1) debris flows, 2) active-layer detachment slides, and 3) alluvial deposition. These processes, we demonstrate, were amplified by extraordinary rainfall events that took place in the summers of 2016 and 2017 against a backdrop of broader climate change induced shifts in arctic precipitation. Further instability in the amount and seasonality of precipitation can be expected, and archaeological consequences will expand to areas that have so far been unaffected. The scale of mass movement that we document may be unprecedented in terms of the landscape’s post-glacial development, and likely represents the onset of a new state in erosional maturity. We use our results to suggest criteria that can help predict and identify areas most at risk, which will be a critical component of prioritizing response measures. The suddenness through which mass movement went from background threat to primary destructive process makes the case of Siorapaluk relevant to archaeologists working in periglacial landscapes worldwide. Read more