Archeologists have unearthed the remnants of a historic camp on a secluded High Arctic island that dates back over 4,000 years. This discovery sheds fresh light on the early inhabitants near the current Canada-Greenland border who ventured to explore a flourishing new ecosystem that emerged during that era.
The Paleo-Inuit archaeological site was located in Kitsissut, a rocky formation of islands positioned between Greenland and Ellesmere Island. Accessing this area by boat today entails a challenging voyage of at least 53 kilometers from the nearest shore through severe High Arctic sea conditions, mirroring the journey undertaken millennia ago.
Lead author of the newly published study in the journal Antiquity, Matthew Walls, remarked on the remarkable feat it would have been for ancient people to reach Kitsissut by watercraft. He estimates that reaching the site by canoe or kayak would have required 12 to 15 hours of strenuous paddling, with weather conditions potentially shifting from calm to stormy along the way.
The archaeological site exhibits signs of frequent visitation and habitation, indicating sustained human activity over an extended period. Researcher Max Friesen from the University of Toronto noted that the findings suggest the Paleo-Inuit possessed more advanced seafaring technology than previously assumed, with remnants of canoe- or kayak-like vessels made from animal skins draped over bone or wood frameworks.
The presence of tent rings, central hearths, and evidence of various activities within the site hint at a structured living arrangement. Radiocarbon dating of a seabird bone found at the location suggests that the camp dates back to approximately 4,000 to 4,400 years ago, coinciding with the emergence of the Paleo-Inuit across the High Arctic.
Around the same time, Kitsissut experienced the development of a thriving ecosystem, facilitated by the formation of a unique open water channel in the sea ice known as the Pikialosorsuaq or North Water polynya. This ecological hotspot supported a diverse food chain, attracting seabirds, marine mammals, and human settlers to the area.
The research underscores the integral role of Indigenous communities in shaping and conserving Arctic ecosystems over millennia. It emphasizes the necessity of Indigenous stewardship in contemporary conservation efforts, highlighting the adaptive skills and resourcefulness of ancient inhabitants in utilizing marine resources for survival in the harsh Arctic environment.
