Ice and fire: Norse farming at the edge of the ice cap of the Western settlement in Greenland

Abstract

In the late 10th century, the Norse established settlements in Greenland that lasted until the mid-15th century, driven by more than just climatic factors. These settlers introduced agropastoral practices and engaged in long-distance trade, especially in the highly prized walrus ivory. The Eastern Settlement (Eystribyggd), at 60°N, proved to be the largest and best studied settlement, in contrast to the smaller Western Settlement (Vestribyggd) at 64°N, particularly in the Kapisillit area. The Western Settlement was likely abandoned earlier than the Eastern Settlement, although the exact timing remains debated. The harsher climatic conditions may have pushed the western settlers towards a subsistence strategy focused, in addition to farming activities, on hunting and fishing. High-resolution multi-proxy analyses of lake sediments from Lake Itinera and Lake Pingu at Kapisillit, only 2 km away from the nearest Norse ruins, reveal subtle environmental changes and fire activity between 1000 and 1200 CE. These changes are characterised by a slight clearing of scrubland, including willows and alders, and an increased spread of herbaceous vegetation. Although the presence of coprophilous fungal spores suggests some herbivore activity, the data do not indicate significant grazing pressure. Instead, the declining values of these spores may reflect a decline in domesticated animals or increased hunting of wild herbivores, such as caribou, towards the end of the settlement period. After the mid-13th century, our results suggest a decrease in human influence, coinciding with the onset of the Little Ice Age. However, the reasons for the eventual abandonment of the Western Settlement remain unclear. This study provides evidence from pollen data and records of fire activity and contributes to our understanding of the complex interactions between societies and the environment, highlighting grazing and hunting pressure as key factors in vegetation change at the Western Settlement. The results highlight the complexity of interpreting environmental data, particularly in distinguishing between anthropogenic impacts and natural variability during the Norse period.