Independence I culture

Areas of Independence I and Independence II cultures around Independence Fjord

Independence I was a culture of Paleo-Eskimos who lived in northern Greenland and the Canadian Arctic between 2400 and 1900 BC.[1][2][3] There has been much debate among scholars on when Independence I culture disappeared, and, therefore, there is a margin of uncertainty with the dates.

The culture is named after Independence Fjord, which is a fjord located in Peary Land.[2] The Independence I people lived at the same time as the Saqqaq culture of southern Greenland. Independence I culture was followed by Independence II culture, which had a similar geographical extent, and lasted from the 8th century BC, roughly 600 years after the disappearance of Independence I. The Independence I occupation of northern Greenland appears to have been much more extensive than that of Independence II.

Independence I alongside Saqqaq culture are considered to be the earliest known cultures in Greenland.[2] The first Palaeo-Eskimo migrants are thought to have migrated from the Canadian High Arctic and have a connection to the Arctic small tool tradition.[4]

Radiocarbon dates and typologies of dwellings and tools do not allow distinguishing any chronological changes in the Independence I culture over its long existence (Grønnow 2016:728).[2]

The topography of the area that the Independence I people resided was extreme and therefore their dwellings reflected this with a focus on keeping warm. Independence I dwellings were characterised by mid passages and a central hearth.[5] The tools they used were also distinct from other cultures from the same era especially the use of microblades.[6] The extreme conditions of the region restricted Independence I people's diet to mainly muskox.[7]

The Independence I culture disappeared around 1900-1700 BC for unknown reasons. Scientists have considerably debated the reasons for why Independence I and II emerged in the isolated northeastern part of Greenland, as well as how these cultures flourished and disappeared.[1]: 737 

Danish explorer Eigil Knuth first recognised the existence of both Independence I and II.[8]

Eigil Knuth’s intensive archaeological investigations led to numerous sites being concluded as Independence I which was confirmede by later archaeologists and researchers. However, Inutoqqat Nunaat (formerly Pearylandville), Adam C. Knuth site and Deltaterasserne are considered to be the biggest settlements and most likely where the Independence I people spent longer periods of time.[9] These sites contained ruins of the dwelling that Independence I people resided in giving an insight into how they survived the extreme temperatures of the High Arctic.[9]

Nares Strait 432 pan crop 15 (31649014854)
  1. ^ a b J.F. Jensen (2016). "Greenlandic Dorset". In M. Friesen and O. Mason (ed.). The Oxford Handbook of the Prehistoric Arctic. doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199766956.013.56. However, with just 12 Greenlandic Dorset [Independence II in this context] sites known from northernmost Greenland (Grønnow and Jensen 2003), the density of the Greenlandic Dorset occupation in this region does not compare to that of the older Independence I occupation of the same area.
  2. ^ a b c d Bjarne Grønnow (2016). "Independence I and Saqqaq: The First Greenlanders". In Max Friesen; Owen Mason (eds.). The Oxford Handbook of the Prehistoric Arctic. doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199766956.013.33.
  3. ^ Jensen, Jens Fog; Gotfredsen, Anne Birgitte (2022-01-02). "First people and muskox hunting in northernmost Greenland". Acta Borealia. 39 (1): 24–52. doi:10.1080/08003831.2022.2061763. ISSN 0800-3831. S2CID 248421029.
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  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference :10 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Dan Laursen (December 1996). "EIGIL GREVE KNUTH 1903 – 1996" (PDF). Arctic. 49 (4): 401–403. doi:10.14430/arctic1216. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-07-02. Retrieved 2009-02-19.
  9. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference :7 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).