Death & Burial in Norse Greenland Jette Arneborg National Museum of Denmark
Historical Profile according to the written accounts Ca. 986 - Icelanders settle in Southwest Greenland 1000 - Christianity introduced 1121 - A Greenlandic bishop, Eirík, mentioned for the first time 1212 - First Greenlandic bishop arrived in Greenland 1378 - Bishop Alf died. He was the last bishop to reside in Greenland Mid 1400s the settlements abandoned 2 Jette Arneborg - Death & Burial - Reykjavík March 9. 2012
Ø35 Ø33 Ø1 Ø29a Ø23 Ø48 Ø18 Ø47 Ø64 Ø83 Ø66 Ø78 The Norse churches in Greenland Ø149 Ø162 Ø105 Ø111
Pagan burials the closest we get: Stone setting adjecent to the Hvalseyfjord Church. Ruin group Ø83. Interpretation based on saga text Reburials at the church yard at ruin group Ø 64 4 Jette Arneborg - Death & Burial - Reykjavík March 9. 2012
Chronology analogies to Norwegian/Scandinavian church bulidings
Chronology based on combination of shape of the church yard and church building 1000s 1100-1200 After 1300 Chr. Keller 1989
Archaeological excavations since 2001 Sermilik fjord: Ø1 Tunulliarfik fjord: Ø 23, Ø29a (Tjodhildes Church), Ø33, Ø35, Igaliku fjord: Ø48 Ø64 Ø78
Late church Qassiarsuk Brattahlid Ruin group Ø29a Tjodhildes church Warehouse 8 Jette Arneborg - Death & Burial - Reykjavík March 9. 2012
AMS dated skeletal remains fra Tjodhildes Church 1065-1115(1028-1171) 1020(995-1043) 1192(1122-1228) 1172(1063-1227) 1169(1061-1222) 985(909-1017) 976(894-996) 1165(1046-1218 1175(1061-1226) 9 Jette Arneborg - Death & Burial - Reykjavík March 9. 2012
Qorlortoq, ruin group Ø33
Qorlortoq, ruin group Ø33
Qorlortoq, ruingruppe Ø33 AMS dates Trækul: AD 978 (897-988). Trækul: AD 1019 (997-1024)
Qorlortup itinnera, Ø35 Dwelling Church
Qorlortup itinnera, ruin group Ø35
AMS dates ruin group Ø35 Grave 9, human remains: AD 1002 (983-1022) Human remains AD 1213 (1167-1250) Human remains AD 1026 (1009-1042) Human remains AD 1022 (1003-1033)
Sillisit, ruin group Ø23
The church at Sillisit, Ø23 17 Jette Arneborg - Death & Burial - Reykjavík March 9. 2012
Skeletal remains from Ø23 Lower parts of skeletons Many skeletal parts in secondary positions AMS dates AD 1320 (1304-1388) AD 1299 (1288-1314) AD 1448 (1436-1469) 18 Jette Arneborg - Death & Burial - Reykjavík March 9. 2012
Nunataaq, ruin group Ø1 Church Dwelling Byre - barn Kirke Bolig
Skeletal remains, Ø1 AMS dates: AD 1426 (1412-1438) AMS dates of wooden construction: AD 889 (781-958) AD 779 (724-885) AD 1308 (1299-1424) AD 1220-1280 (1180-1300) 20 Jette Arneborg - Death & Burial - Reykjavík March 9. 2012
Igaliku ruin group Ø48 Church Dwelling Byre - barn
Igaliku, ruin group Ø48 Charcoal AD 1069-1158 (1038-1186) Skeleton AD 1124-1153 (1042-1169) Charcoal AD 1074-1159 (1036-1209) Charcoal AD 1163-1180 (1067-1215) Skelet AD 1037 (1025-1155)
Eqaluit, ruin group Ø78 Dwelling Church 23 Jette Arneborg - Death & Burial - Reykjavík March 9. 2012
Skeletal remains, Ø78 24 Jette Arneborg - Death & Burial - Reykjavík March 9. 2012
Ruin group Ø64 Ø64 Ø66 Igaliku kujalleq
Ø64 26 Jette Arneborg - Death & Burial - Reykjavík March 9. 2012
AMS dates from Ø64 Cal. age 95,4% probability: 802-972 Sr. Iceland Cal. age 95,5% probability: 893-1014 (44,9% 945-990). Reburial Sr. Iceland Cal. age: 95,4% probability: 893-1014 Sr. Greenland Girl around 14 years old Cal. Age: 95,4% probability: 1042-1183 Cal. age 95,4% probability: 1049-1215 Midden layers above church yard and church building 1200s.
Chronology based on combination of shape of the church yard and church building NEW NEW 1000-1200 1100-1450 1300-1450
Nunataaq, ruin group Ø1 Church Dwelling Byre - barn Kirke Bolig
Conclusions Pagan graves have not been found in Greenland. Reburials may indicate the possibility that some individuals in the initial settlement period were buried as pagans. The circular churchyards are from the first settlement period, and the layout of the churchyard determine date rather than the size of the church. Still, all the early churches are small and may have been wooden constructions surrounded by protecting walls. Even though we cannot rule out the possibility of a few having been buried as pagans the church with its church yard was an integral part of the landnam farm and the church was always built close to the dwelling. The close physical connection between church and dwelling continues throughout the whole settlement period even though the status of the church may have changed over time. Churches were closed down and the some farms lost their churches while other farms built new churches indicating changed socio-economic structures. The church building in Norse Greenland tradition follows Scandinavian styles.
TAK! 32 Jette Arneborg - Death & Burial - Reykjavík March 9. 2012
? Ø33 Ø35 New Ø1 Ø29a New Ø23 Ø48 Ø18 Ø47 Ø64 Ø83 Ø66 Ø78 Ø149 Ø162 Ø105 The churches in the Eastern Settlement Landnam churches. Shut down during the 1200s Romanesque churches from c. 1000 Gothic churches after c. 1300 Ø111
Chronology based on combination of shape of the church yard and church building 1000s 1100-1200 After 1300 Chr. Keller 1989