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Suggest pagesQilakitsoq
 The mummy of a six-month-old boy |
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| Discovered | 1972 |
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| Present location | Nuussuaq Peninsula, Greenland |
Qilakitsoq is an archaeological site on Nuussuaq Peninsula, on the shore of Uummannaq Fjord in northwestern Greenland. Formally a settlement, it is famous for the discovery of eight mummified bodies in 1972.
[edit] Archaeological finds
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This article has been nominated to be checked for its neutrality. Discussion of this nomination can be found on the talk page. (January 2012) |
The bodies were found in an icy tomb, the remains dated to 1460.[1] Four of these bodies were preserved in extremely good condition due to being buried under a rock in cold temperatures with a steady cold breeze always blowing. In essence, they were freeze dried.[2]
The mummies in the first grave included three women stacked on top of each other with a boy on top and a beautifully preserved baby on top of them all. A nearby grave contained three more women piled on top of each other.[1] Both pits were covered in stones, the placement of which alerted a pair of brothers who were out hunting. After turning over a few stones, the brothers found the mummies, re-closed the grave and alerted authorities. However, it took until 1977 before the authorities investigated the find.
Along with the mummies in the graves were 78 pieces of clothing made from seal, reindeer and other skins, some of which displayed a sense of fashion. The boy had features which may have been symptoms of down syndrome, and five of the six adult females bore faint facial tattoos. The baby is the now famous representative of the group, and may have been placed alive into the grave if its mother had died, as was customary in Eskimo culture.
DNA test showed relative close family connection of all the mummies.[3]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b The Genetic Genealogist
- ^ The Official Tourism and Business Site of Greenland
- ^ Gilbert, M. Thomas P.; Djurhuus, Durita; Melchior, Linea; Lynnerup, Niels; Worobey, Michael; Wilson, Andrew S; Andreasen, Claus; Dissing, JøRgen (2007). "MtDNA from hair and nail clarifies the genetic relationship of the 15th century Qilakitsoq Inuit mummies". American Journal of Physical Anthropology 133 (2): 847–53. doi:10.1002/ajpa.20602. PMID 17427925.
- Hansen, Jens P. Hart; Meldgaard, Jørgen and Nordqvist, Jørgen (1985) "The Mummies of Qilakitsoq" National Geographic 167(2): pp. 191-207
- Whitaker, Ian (2009). "Mummifield Greenland Exkimos the mummies from Qilakitsoq: Eskimos in the 15th century. J. P. Hart Hansen and H. C. Gulløv 1989. Meddelelser om Grønland: Man and Society 12". Polar Record 27 (161): 143. doi:10.1017/S0032247400012432.
Coordinates: 70°36′31″N 52°10′55″W / 70.60861°N 52.18194°W
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