The earliest inhabitants of Greenland already possessed advanced maritime skills. Archaeological finds on the Kitsissut Islands in the far north of Greenland show that Paleo-Inuit undertook repeated open-sea voyages around 4,500 years ago. According to current knowledge, these journeys rank among the longest known voyages by Arctic hunting groups of that period.
The Kitsissut Islands lie more than 50 kilometers from the nearest mainland. The sea route crosses permanently open waters with strong currents. Modeling calculations and ethnographic comparisons suggest that the return journey, depending on wind and currents, may have required up to 15 hours of continuous paddling. At all times, there was the risk of being carried off into Baffin Bay. Together with his team, Matthew Walls discovered and documented this early presence of Paleo-Inuit.
An international research team led by archaeologist Matthew Walls identified several features on the islands indicating repeated human presence. These include characteristic stone structures consisting of two closely adjoining rings, interpreted as tent foundations with a central hearth. Such structures are known from other Paleo-Inuit sites and are considered reliable indicators of temporary camps.
The choice of the Kitsissut Islands as a destination can be explained by their ecological conditions. During the summer months, large colonies of thick-billed murres breed on the steep cliffs. The birds and their eggs provided an easily accessible and energy-rich food source. The archaeological evidence suggests that the islands were deliberately and likely seasonally visited.
The crossings were likely made in boats with wooden frames covered in animal skins, similar to those known from later Arctic cultures. The findings suggest that knowledge of boatbuilding, navigation, and weather observation was already part of the cultural repertoire of the Paleo-Inuit at an early stage.
Overall, the results paint a more nuanced picture of Greenland’s early settlement. The Paleo-Inuit appear not only as hunters adapted to extreme environmental conditions, but also as experienced users of maritime spaces. For them, the open sea was not an insurmountable barrier, but an integral part of their sphere of activity.
Heiner Kubny, PolarJournal