NSFGEO-NERC Collaborative Research: Environmental change and impacts on prehistoric human colonization of Peary Land, northernmost Greenland
Lead Research Organisation:
British Antarctic Survey
Department Name: Science Programmes
Abstract
The goal of this project is to understand changes and interactions among arctic system components (climate, people, terrestrial and marine ecosystems, sea-ice and glacier extent) in Peary Land, north of the Greenland Ice Sheet, where people with stone tool technology managed to survive for prolonged periods during the past ~4500 years. We propose to produce multi-proxy high resolution, quantitative records of climate and vegetation from lake sediments, and to examine the persistence of polynyas along the coast, where marine mammals congregate, using high-resolution model simulations. Paleoenvironmental records will be coupled with new archaeological data generated from a field mapping campaign to comprehensively survey sites and a program to radiocarbon date existing archeological materials to improve the chronology of human activities in the region. We will explore the extent to which periods of settlement and times of abandonment were related to climatic fluctuations that affected the availability of terrestrial and marine resources, which were essential for survival in this very remote region. The target region is considered as a model to consider the nexus of climate change, resource availability, and human response in a paleo context-- issues that still resonate today throughout the Arctic.
| Description | Major Activities: A set of radiocarbon dates on samples collected in 2022 doubled the number of dates from Aasivitoqarsuaq ("Pearylandville") and firmly established the timing of Independence culture occupancy at 4000 years B.P. An excellent chronology was obtained for 2022 sediment cores from Nedre Midsommer Lale, and nearby Late Summer Lake; both span the post-glacial period in the area. Additional dates on Late Southwest cast doubt on the presence of a complete varve sequence, suggesting that sedimentation was extremely low or discontinuous during the coldest part of the Little Ice Age. Biomarker, hyperspectral and CT tomographic imaging, geochemical, isotopic, sedimentological and diatom studies of cores from all sites are being used to establish a comprehensive picture of paleoenvironmental conditions since deglaciation of the valley, with a focus on the periods of human occupancy (Independence, Greenlandic Dorset and Thule cultures). In addition, Sedimentary DNA and chironomid studies are in progress. Analysis of cores collected in 2024 has been started. 2024 fieldwork was drastically curtailed due to logistical problems resulting in limited opportunities to conduct bathymetric and sub-bottom sediment surveys, and only allowing us to recover a few short sediment cores, without stratigraphic context and without assessment of the local geomorphology and glacial history of the valleys. Drone surveys of some archeological sites along Wandel Dal were carried out, but there was not enough time to carry out the detailed archeological studies that were planned, resulting in few artifacts being collected. Significant Results: Preliminary results suggest that the first arrival of people in northern Greenland occurred at the onset of cold conditions, following the warmest period of the post-glacial, in the mid-Holocene (~5-6000 years B.P.). Recent climatic data suggest higher temperatures are strongly linked to wetter conditions (also linked to more open water & less sea-ice) and so it may have been wetter in the mid-Holocene, allowing for a more productive ecosystem that could support more muskoxen. SedDNA, currently in progress, will shed more light on this matter. There is very little archeological information about the timing of the arrival of Greenlandic Dorset people and so that period is somewhat enigmatic and requires more radiocarbon dating of artifacts. The Thule era was a time when whaling was possible around northern Greenland, something that has been impossible due to persistently thick sea-ice until very recently. Alkenone-based paleotemperature reconstruction suggests temperatures in High Medieval time were comparable to today, but fell significantly during the 13th and 14th centuries, bringing the whaling era in northernmost Greenland to an end. Papers are being prepared on recent (last ~1000 year) multiproxy changes from Lake Southwest and modelling ice changes and human migration in the last millennium. Analytical work on other cores is ongoing |
| Exploitation Route | n/a |
| Sectors | Education Environment Culture Heritage Museums and Collections |
| Description | The 2023 field season was cancelled due to logistical difficulties getting a helicopter to Northern Greenland in late July/August. The postponed field season is being planned for August 2024. In the meantime, core samples from 3 lakes (Nedre Midsommer Sø, Late Sommer Sø, and Lake Southwest) have been analysed for a number of proxies, including diatoms (NERC-BAS component), alkenone temperature reconstruction (Lamont-Doherty), XRF, Hyperspectral scanning (Bergen & William and Mary), varve counting (UMASS/INRS-Quebec). Radiocarbon dates give good chronologies for the last 7-8 ka BP in both midsummer lakes. 12 new radiocarbon dates on archaeological artifacts confirm ~3.6 - 4ka BP occupation of the site. Analyses of additional proxies (e.g. sedDNA, chironomids, pollen) is ongoing. Manuscript on Lake Southwest record ~1400 yrs) is in mid-stages of preparation with NERC-BAS as co-author, postdoc as lead. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2023 |
| Sector | Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| Impact Types | Cultural |
| Description | Conference Presentations & invited talks |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Conference Presentations & invited talks: AGU Meeting, San Francisco, USA, December 2024: • Stein R, D'Andrea WJ, Bradley RS, Balascio N, Perren B, Lapointe F, Bakke J, Larsen F, Peteet DM. Holocene Climate and Environmental History from Wandel Dal, Northeast Greenland. AGU24. 2024 Dec 11. PAGES Human Traces webinar, April 2024: • Perren, B. Environmental change and impacts on prehistoric human colonization in Inutoqqat Nunaat, Northern Greenland, April 24. Arctic Workshop meeting, Amherst, USA, March 2024: • Bradley et al. Paleoclimate during early human migration into Inutoqqat Nunaat, northern Greenland • Perren, B. et al. Paleoecological records from three lakes in Inutoqqat Nunaat, northern Greenland • Schneider, T. et al. A promising archive of high arctic Holocene temperature variability: lake sediments from lake SW in Peary Land, north Greenland • Stein, R. et al. A 7,000 year alkenone-based temperature record from Inutoqqat Nunaat, north Greenland AGU Meeting, San Francisco, USA, December 2023: • Balascio, N. et al., incl. Perren, B. PP23D-1399 Holocene Climate History of Wandel Dal Provides Context for the Prehistoric Human Colonization of Northern Greenland Greenland Science Conference, Nuuk, Greenland, October 2023: • Balascio, N. et al., Holocene climate history of Wandel Dal provides context for prehistoric human colonization of Northern Greenland Outreach: Interview with Fuuja Larsen (Greenland) and Bianca Perren in Arctic Hub news (Greenland): https://arctichub.gl/the-mystery-of-wandel-dal/ Interview with Bianca Perren in "Greenland voyage sheds light on little known ancient arctic culture" New Scientist, September 2024 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024,2025 |