Independence I culture
[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.
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.
[8] Eigil Knuth’s intensive archaeological investigations led to numerous sites being concluded as Independence I which was confirmed 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.
[2] Using traditional means of transport, Greenland could only be accessed through High Arctic Canada or by crossing the Nares Strait, which is considered to be one of the most extreme environments.
[4] In September 1948, Danish explorer Eigil Knuth discovered Deltaterrasserne, a pre-Inuit archaeological site on Peary Land, during the second summer of a multi-year research expedition.
[4] Further archaeological investigations and radiocarbon dates have confirmed Knuth’s discoveries about the age of the Palaeo-Eskimo sites and that there was a division between the two Independence cultures.
[9] The northernmost part of Greenland is characterised by “barren deserts, permanent sea- ice cover, several months of extremely low temperatures, and winter darkness”.
[13][14] A distinct feature in this kind of dwelling is the stone build midpassage with a box fireplace inside two parallel walls.
Remains discovered at Deltaterrasserne of musk ox and fish bones suggests that Independence I people used the resources of the land and inland waters of Greenland to sustain their livelihood.
[7] However, it is likely arctic fox hunting was conducted in winter, and that their diet mainly consisted of muskox which is typical for Independence I culture.
[6] Fragments of broken bone needles were among the artefacts discovered at Independence I sites, which suggests they stitched their garments.
[10] Inutoqqat Nunaat (formerly known as Pearylandville) is the largest Paleo-Eskimo site in the Peary Land as discovered by Eigil Knuth.
[7] Researchers and archaeologists have noted that it is difficult to determine how long this site was used for as there is great difficulty in separating old remains from new ones.
[7] It has also been suggested the reason for the large number of ruins at Inutoqqat Nunaat is because it was used as a place for gathering for Independence I people.
[9] Knuth led major excavations there in 1964, 1966, 1968, and 1969,[3] wherein he was able to successfully recover 820 lithic tools, 5312 flakes and a total of 2274 animal bones.
[3] Inutoqqat Nunaat was renamed from "Pearylandville" in 2022 by members of the Greenland National Museum, which translates to Land of the Ancient People.
[3] However other researchers have theorised that Deltaterasserne would have been the preferred summer site for Independence I people as they discovered a relatively large amount of bird bones.
[2] The extreme temperatures of northern Greenland and the unreliability of their main food source of musk ox, which was prone to overhunting, could have contributed to their demise.
