Archaeologia Islandica - 01.01.2002, Qupperneq 76

Ole Guldager
BRATTAHLÍÐ RECONSIDERED. SOME
THOUGHTS ON THE SOCIAL STRUCTURE
OF MEDIEVAL NORSE GREENLAND, AND
THE LOCATION OF BRATTAHLÍÐ
The Norse Settlements in Greenland existed and thrived for almost half a millennium,
until mysteriously abandoned during the 15th century. Archaeological surveys and
excavations in the Eastern and Westem Settlements have produced a profound knowl-
edge of the physical remains. Still, little is known of the old topography and social
structures of this society, even though several theories have been proposed, claiming
strong dependencies on the church.
In recent years, some of the earlier theories have been questioned. It has been sug-
gested that the society was rather independent and ruled by local chieftains all through
its existence. This theory is supported by analyses of the settlement pattem presented
in this article. It seems that each local area was dominated by so-called "chieftain and
church farm complexes", consisting of a large farm with a prime location, and a near-
by farm of more modest size, but with a church.
New surveys have also revealed the existence of a very large Norse farm site in
Qinngua, in the Tunulliarfik Fjord of South Greenland. Due to its size, location and
the presence of a possible church ruin, it is suggested that ancient Brattahlíð is to be
found there - not in nearby Qassiarsuk, which has been believed for more than a cen-
tury.
Ole Guldager, Institute for Archaeology and Ethnology
University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
E-mail: oleguldager@yahoo.com
Keywords: Norse research, Brattahlid, Settlement studies, Archaeology, Greenland.
Introduction
According to the Landnámabók of
Iceland, 985 AD was the year when
Icelandic colonists settled in Greenland.
The landnám (the taking of new land) of
the country was initiated by an Icelander,
Eirík Þorvaldsson, also known as Eric the
Red.
During the previous three years, Eirík
had investigated the coasts and fjords of
Greenland, and had chosen the best place
for himself. There, in Eiríksljörður, he
erected a farm and called it Brattahlíð
(the steep slope). This place probably
held the most prominent position in the
entire settlement, being the chieftain's
see of the original settler. It is very likely
that Brattahlíð kept its leading role dur-
ing the nearly 500 years that the Norse
colony existed.
During the 15th century, the Norse set-
tlements were abandoned for reasons still
Archaeologia Islandica 2 (2002) 74-97