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Book
The Stone Age of Qeqertarsuup Tunua (Disko Bugt) : a regional analysis of the Saqqaq and Dorset cultures of Central West Greenland
Author:
ISBN: 8763530686 8763512726 9788763530682 Year: 2009 Publisher: Copenhagen, Denmark : Museum Tusculanum Press,

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Abstract

Saqqaq and Dorset sites excavated by the author in the southern part of Qeqertarsuup Tunua (Disko Bugt) form the empirical basis for a comparison of Saqqaq and Dorset settlement in the area. Earlier reconstructions of the cultural history were based mainly on observations of stratified middens. In contrast to this, the present work focuses on the horizontal dimension within the archaeological record. As a consequence, settlement patterns, dwelling types and the spatial organisation of dwellings are the principal objectives. Saqqaq and Dorset settlement patterns are broadly similar and it is concluded that there is little evidence to suggest any major difference in economy or adaptation between the two periods. Both Saqqaq and Dorset settlement patterns are characterised by a number of large settlements located strategically near the most productive biotopes. Minor settlements, most often occupied during the warm season, are found within the catchment area, indicating annual recurring dispersal of the population during the warmer months. Only Sydostbugten, in Southeastern Qeqertarsuup Tunua, appears to exhibit significant differences between Saqqaq and Dorset settlement patterns. Large Dorset settlements have not been found in Sydostbugten and it is suggested that this area, probably due to climatic oscillations, was less attractive for settlement during the Dorset period than it was in the Saqqaq. Consequently, the Dorset people seem only to have utilised Sydostbugten for specialised seasonal camps. Saqqaq and Dorset accommodation comprises distinct summer and winter dwellings. During both periods, the summer dwellings are characterised by what are believed to be single family tents. These occur in two principal varieties: Tent rings, with a central hearth, and mid-passage tent rings, where the interior is divided in two by parallel lines of stones. This difference in architecture is suggested to result from variation in the social composition of the inhabitants. Winter dwellings of both the Saqqaq and Dorset cultures are characterised by more solidly built structures. In the Saqqaq culture there are platform dwellings and mid-passage structures filled with fire-cracked rocks. During the Dorset, the winter dwellings are characterised by double-platform dwellings, in which a central floor area divides the interior into two platforms that are often paved. The presence of more than one hearth or lamp stand, as well as mirrored distributions of the most frequent tool categories to the left and right of the central floor area, is interpreted as a result of these dwellings being occupied by two families. Chapter 7 focuses on Saqqaq raw material distribution from killiaq sources in the vicinity of Qaarsut and Angissat. The raw material distribution from these two sources is characterised as a regional and local system. The procurement and subsequent distribution of raw materials from Angissat in Southern Qeqertarsuup Tunua appears thus to have been imbedded in the local resource exploitation. Much of the raw material extraction appears to have been carried out by hunting parties visiting the outcrop during summer hunting trips. In contrast to this, Qaarsut at Nuussuaq shows evidence of a more comprehensive production of preforms, which were distributed throughout Western Greenland. Economically as well as socially, there appear to be numerous similarities between the Saqqaq and Dorset cultures. However, when evaluating the radiocarbon dates, there appears to be discontinuity between the two periods as is also suggested by earlier excavations of stratified deposits. In Sisimiut District, to the south of Qeqertarsuup Tunua, the latest Saqqaq dates overlap with the oldest Dorset dates. Theoretically, there could be continuity between the two periods outside Qeqertarsuup Tunua, however the archaeological evidence for such a development has yet to be found. When the cultural history of Qeqertarsuup Tunua is compared with that of Peary Land, the dwelling types and chronological units appear very similar. In the case of Dorset and Independence II, the similarities also extend to include the lithic inventory. As a consequence it is difficult to maintain a division between Dorset in Western and Southern Greenland and Independence II in the High Arctic.


Book
The northernmost ruins of the globe : Eigil Knuth's archaeological investigations in Peary Land and adjacent areas of High Arctic Greenland
Authors: --- ---
ISBN: 8763530651 8763512629 9788763512626 Year: 2003 Publisher: Copenhagen, Denmark : Copenhagen, Denmark : Danish Polar Center, Museum Tusculanum Press,

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Abstract

An important part of the heritage of Count Eigil Knuth (1903-1996) is his archaeological archive including contextual information on prehistoric sites gathered during six decades of research in High Arctic Greenland. The finds and observations are a key to the understanding of human life under extreme conditions in a long-term perspective and represent a unique piece of evidence concerning the early cultural history of the Eastern Arctic. Knuth’s expeditions from 1932 to 1995 took him to Greenland and Canada, in particular High Arctic Greenland. In a number of important articles Knuth published the findings dating back to the earliest human settlement in Greenland. However, he never managed to present the complete body of information and results from his many investigations. The present authors have thus compiled a computer data base based on his archive, and this has formed the starting point of the present book. The book focuses on Knuth’s most substantial contribution to archaeology: the prehistory of Peary Land and adjacent areas. In the catalogue emphasis has been placed on topographical and architectural information, site structure, artefact statistics and radiocarbon dates. A total of 154 archaeological sites are presented. 51 sites with a total of 244 features are Independence I sites (c. 2460 – 1860 cal. BC), 23 sites with a total of 416 features belong to Independence II (c. 900 – 400 cal. BC) and 63 sites with a total of 626 features are of Thule origin (c. 1400 – 1500 ca. AD). It has not been our ambition to re-analyse the finds or add new empirical data in connection with the production of this book. We do, however, present some new information on the faunal material from Peary Land based on Christyann Darwent’s recent analyses as well as new data on the dwelling features on the Adam C. Knuth Site, which was visited by a multidisciplinary team in 2001. The book is provided with an introduction presenting an overview and evaluation of Knuth’s remarkable curriculum vitae as an independent arctic archaeologist. In the concluding chapters some basic statistics on the archaeological sites are presented. We evaluate Knuth’s radiocarbon datings of the Independence I, Independence II and Thule cultures in High Arctic Greenland, and settlement distributions and settlement patterns for the three cultures represented in Peary Land are discussed.

Keywords

Excavations (Archaeology) --- Archaeological digs --- Archaeological excavations --- Digs (Archaeology) --- Excavation sites (Archaeology) --- Ruins --- Sites, Excavation (Archaeology) --- Archaeology --- Knuth, Eigil, --- Greenland --- Grønland --- Groenlandia --- Grenlandii︠a︡ --- Groilandia --- Grænland --- Groenland --- Kalaallit Nunaat --- Gruntland --- Engronelant --- Engroneland --- Gronlandia --- Grēneland --- Qrenlandiya --- Chhen̳-tē --- Грэнландыя --- Hrėnlandyi︠a︡ --- Grenland --- Greunland --- Гренландия --- Гренланди --- Grenlandi --- Калааллит Нунаат --- Grónsko --- Ynys Las --- Lasynys --- Haʼaʼaahjí Hakʼaz Dineʼé Bikéyah --- Grónlandska --- Gröönimaa --- Γροιλανδία --- Gronlando --- Grenlando --- Grienlân --- Ghraonlainn --- Greenlynn --- Çheer y Sniaghtey --- Grenlandia --- Гринлэндин Арл --- Grinlėndin Arl --- 그린란드 --- Gŭrinlandŭ --- Akukittut --- גרינלנד --- Grinland --- Goronulande --- Grenlande --- Grenlandija --- Groenlandi --- Гренланд --- Groentlālpan --- Gruunlaand --- グリーンランド --- Gurīnrando --- Greenlun --- Griinland --- Verdi-lande --- Гренландий --- Grenlandiĭ --- Gröönland --- Gronelândia --- Groelândia --- Groenlanda --- Kalalit Nunat --- Grunlandya --- Gräinlound --- Groenlannia --- Grynlandyjo --- Grönlanti --- Lupanlunti --- Ґренландія --- Groenlaand --- גרינלאנד --- Grínlándì --- Grenlandėjė --- 格陵兰 --- Gelinglan --- Kalâtdlit-Nunât --- Discovery and exploration.

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