Voyage to Kitsissut: a new perspective on Early Paleo-Inuit watercraft and maritime lifeways at a High Arctic polynya
Abstract
An archaeological survey of Kitsissut, a remote island cluster in the High Arctic of Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland), has revealed a human presence almost 4500 years ago, during the formation of a vital marine environment—Pikialasorsuaq polynya. Kitsissut is accessible only by a difficult open-water journey, and repeated occupation thus permits inferences on the sophistication of watercraft technology and navigational skill. Here, the authors argue that this demonstrable reach of Early Paleo-Inuit communities across marine and terrestrial ecosystems enhances our understanding of their lifeways and environmental legacy, raising critical new questions about Indigenous agency in shaping emerging Arctic ecosystems.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Indigenous Studies and Ecology
Maritime and Coastal Archaeology
Historical and Archaeological Studies
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Antiquity
- Volume
- 100
- Issue
- 410
- Pages
- 355–371
- Publication date
- 9 February 2026
- Language
- EN