Ancient bones tell scientists how people survived on the “ice continent” BC

In a new study, anthropologists took a closer look at the Saqqaq diet and the diets of other populations in

 Greenland, an icy “quasi-continent”.They conducted a DNA analysis of bone fragments collected from “kitchen waste.” The term is used in Greenland to refer to the mound of bones left behind by people after eating.

Saqqaq is one of the ancient Paleo-Eskimo cultures.Greenland, which existed from about 2500 to 800 BC. The name of the culture comes from the village of the same name, near which the original archaeological excavations were located. The Saqqaq culture is the oldest culture known to science in southern Greenland.

Nuuk, Greenland. Photo: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Scientists who study the history of Greenland oftenwondered how early humans could survive in such a cold climate. Previous research has shown that there were four main migrations to Greenland: the Saqqaq, the Dorset, the Norwegians and the Thule—only the Thule became permanent residents. The first group, the Saqqaq people, arrived about 4,500 years ago and remained in Greenland until a cold snap drove them out 1,700 years later. Previous research has shown that they ate fish, seals, and perhaps even some species of whales, despite their limited tools for hunting, catching and cooking the huge carcasses.

After examining approximately 2,500 bone fragments, archaeologistshave identified 42 species of creatures eaten by early humans, many of which surprised scientists. Thus, experts have discovered the DNA of an extinct species of reindeer, which was much smaller than those that live in Greenland today. They also found evidence of several types of whales: fin whales, sperm whales, narwhals and bowhead whales. Bowhead whales were very common, which the researchers note makes sense since they are relatively easy to kill. Overall, the researchers found evidence of 20 species of mammals, nine species of fish (including a surprising number of quite small ones, suggesting the use of nets), and 13 species of birds.

DNA data reveals more than just typescreatures that were caught and eaten by ancient humans, the researchers note, but also shed light on the technical know-how of ancient hunters.

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