Nipisat Island has situated 15 km (9.3 mi) south of Sisimiut, on the shores of Davis Strait.

In 1723, Hans Egede found native people actively engaged in hunting large whalebone whales in Nipisat and the Danes established the first settlement, a trading station here.

[10] The site, named after the island, was discovered in 1989 by Finn Kramer, curator of the Sisimiut Museum.

[11] It lies approximately 50 m (160 ft) from the present coastline, situated on raised beaches with a southeastern slope.

[12] During the five year evacuation period of 1989–1994, over 70,000 bone fragments and approximately 1,000 artifacts were recovered,[13] including 314 tools.