The Greenlandic name means "that which has very little sky", which probably refers to the steep cliffs which surround the area as well as its frequently occurring fog.

A later wave of migration from Alaska via Canada ended in Greenland around 1000 BC and resulted in a more modern settlement of the region surrounding Qilakitsoq.

The region was rich in game; in addition to seals and whales, polar bears, reindeer, and rock ptarmigans were probably also hunted.

A reason for this migration could be competition for food from the newly arriving Europeans, who used nets to hunt seals in large numbers.

[1] As early as 1903, Qilakitsoq proved to be a prominent site of archaeological findings when the colonial administrator at the time sent several discovered artifacts to the National Museum of Denmark.

[3] On October 9, 1972, two hunters, Hans and Jokum Grønvold from Uummannaq, discovered a grave containing several mummies while they were out hunting for rock ptarmigans.

In the meantime, there was already evidence of lasting damage by careless visitors; Hans and Jokum Grønvold repaired the partially covered graves multiple times.

It was located beneath an overhanging cliff and consists of a pile of large stones, as was usual due to a lack of suitable soil.

This site offered optimal conditions for natural mummification; the bodies were in a cold, dry, and well-ventilated atmosphere, protected from animals and the weather.

As expected, there was a low proportion of plant-based nutrition;[11] surprisingly, in addition to pollen, the remains of partially burned evergreen bark was found which was not native to this region.

There was more rust in her lungs than in modern-day residents of large cities, which can primarily be attributed to the use of whale-oil lamps in their small dwellings.

The woman suffered from a malignant, end-stage tumor, which probably impaired her senses of hearing and sight, as well as a poorly healed broken shoulder.

Bad teeth were especially dangerous for Inuit peoples with regard to their diets, which were largely raw, meat-based, and difficult to chew.

Of note were the Kamit (singular: Kamik), nearly waterproof boots stitched from sealskin, which were insulated from the cold using hay.

[13] Similar, although not as well-preserved, mummies were also found on the Uunartoq Island in South Greenland and on the Pisissarfik mountain near Nuuk.