Pisissarfik

The Pisissarfik (or Pisigsarfik) is a 1220 metre high mountain in West Greenland, which has become especially important as an archaeological site. The mountain plays a major role in the Inuit mythology of Pisissarfik.

Geography

The mountain is near the settlement Kapisillit on the North bank of the Kapisillit Kangerluaq (Danish: Godthåbs-Fjord) ca. 150 km northeast of the Greenlandic capital Nuuk in the Sermersooq administrative region. The inland side of the mountain is relatively but forms a steep cliff by the coasts; owing to this distinctive shape, the mountain is one of the most striking of the region.

History

Until about AD 1350 farmsteads forming part of the Western Settlement (Vestribyggð) were situated along the Kapisillit-Fjord. At that time there were often conflicts with the local Inuit; it is believed that this fighting (along with changes in climate) was one of the reasons for the disappearance of Scandinavian settlers from the region, and eventually from the whole of Greenland. The Kalaallisut name 'Pisissarfik' means 'shooting range' and derives from a legend of that time

Legends

An Inuk and a Viking are said to have climbed to the summit and held a shooting competition with bow and arrow on a seal pelt, stretched on a bank of the fjord. The Inuk won and pushed the loser off the cliff to his death.

According to Inuit mythology, the final and decisive battle between the Nordic settlers and themselves took place at the foot of the mountain, and resulted in the extinction of the settlers. The people long considered numerous graves found at the bottom of the cliff to be those of people killed in this fight. However, scientists from the Danish National Museum, who examined the site between 1945 and 1952, found that they were in fact Inuit graves dating from the 16th to 17th century.

Archaeological Finds

The graves contained human corpses that had been preserved by natural mummification, as with those in Qilakitsoq. In one grave, three children were found, all under one year old. In another lay two women and two children, swathed in Reindeer skins. Even the clothing—anoraks made from bird and seal pelts, and Kamit (singular Kamik, seal skin boots)—were well preserved.

The Pisissarfik played an important rôle in the Christianisation of the region in the 18th century: on Pentecost Sunday 1749 the first Deutsche Messe was celebrated at its foot.

Sources

• T. Ammitzbøll, M. Bencard, J. Bodenhoff, Rolf Gilberg, A. Johansson, Jørgen Meldgaard, Gerda Møller, Rigmor Møller, E. Svejgaard, L. Vanggaard (1991), Jens Peder Hart Hansen, Jørgen Meldgaard, Jørgen Nordqvist (ed.), "Clothing", The Greenland Mummies, London: British Museum Publications, pp. 116–149, ISBN 0-7141-2500-8{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
• "Siulleq Pisissarfik". Archived from the original on March 3, 2007. Retrieved 16 March 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help) – Bilder des Pisissarfik