In 1972, eight Qilakitsoq mummies were discovered in two tombs within a rocky crevasse in Greenland. While researchers had encountered ancient mummies before, these specimens were some of the best-preserved ever found in Greenland. The mummies’ excellent state of preservation provided an unprecedented glimpse into the lives of the Inuit people, showcasing the remarkable preservation conditions that the arctic environment can offer.
The skin, fingernails, hair, and even eyebrows of the six adults and two young Inuits are plainly visible. They came to be known as the Qilakitsoq mummies, named after the abandoned Inuit settlement where they were discovered, located on the Nuussuaq Peninsula in northwestern Greenland. These mummies offer an extraordinary glimpse into the past, providing valuable insights into the clothing, health, and burial practices of the Inuit people who lived in this harsh, arctic environment.
The mummies were likely simple farmers, and their mummification was accidental. The subzero temperatures on the Greenland peninsula had naturally preserved the corpses, effectively freeze-drying them against the ravages of time. They were so well-preserved that their organs could be examined, and even their tattoos were visible. This natural preservation offers a remarkable window into the lives and customs of the Inuit people, allowing researchers to study their physical characteristics, health conditions, and cultural practices in exceptional detail.
Perhaps most shocking about the discovery was that the youngest corpse, a six-month-old, appeared to have been buried alive.
Brothers Hans and Jokum Grønvold stumbled upon the Qilakitsoq mummies while hunting grouse under some rocks in 1972. The corpses were stacked vertically, separated by layers of animal hide. Remarkably, they were still adorned with the furs that would have kept them warm during their lives, reflecting the Inuit belief in preparation for the afterlife, where they would continue to hunt.
The exceptional preservation of the Qilakitsoq mummies is attributed to the harsh Arctic climate. The freezing ground temperatures and extremely dry air effectively freeze-dried the corpses, preventing decay and preserving their skin and internal organs for centuries. This natural process has allowed researchers to study these mummies in remarkable detail, shedding light on ancient Inuit customs, clothing, and burial practices.
Of the eight bodies, the infant was the best-preserved, which archaeologists attribute to his size. Due to his smaller body mass, he would have frozen much faster than his adult family members beside him. This rapid freezing process likely contributed to the exceptional preservation of his remains, highlighting the delicate balance of environmental factors that led to the mummies’ remarkable state of preservation.
Along with the bodies, the brothers discovered 78 additional pieces of clothing crafted from reindeer and sealskin. After alerting authorities, archaeologists subsequently uncovered a few other graves and the remains of abandoned homes at the Qilakitsoq settlement as well. These additional findings provided valuable insights into the daily life, culture, and burial practices of the Inuit people who inhabited the area, enriching our understanding of their history and customs.
The second grave contained three women: two of them were related, while the third appeared to be unrelated to anyone else at the gravesite. It is speculated that she may have married into the family of the others buried beside her.
Researchers observed that the family had received a traditional Inuit burial in local rock formations. The placement of the graves helped preserve them, as it provided ample drainage, airflow, and sufficient protection from the weather. This careful arrangement underscores the cultural significance attached to burial practices among the Inuit people and highlights their deep connection to their environment.
What Scientists Learned From The Corpses
These mummies would prove to be an invaluable tool for understanding the customs of Greenland’s indigenous Thule Inuit population. Though the family was likely buried around 1475 A.D., their forefathers settled in the area about 500 years prior.
Scientists are not completely sure how exactly the adult Inuits died, but they speculate that it was perhaps due to natural causes like kidney stones, tumors, constipation, and overall poor health.
Archaeologists found large amounts of soot in the lymph nodes of the lungs of all the mummified remains. This can be attributed to using lamps lit by seal oil in the small confines of their homes. This discovery provides valuable insights into the daily lives and living conditions of the Qilakitsoq community, shedding light on their use of resources and the environmental challenges they faced.
The Qilakitsoq mummies were heavily infested with lice, to the extent that scientists recovered remnants of lice from some of their intestines, indicating that the lice on their bodies had infiltrated their food as they were eating.
UV-examination revealed that all the women’s foreheads, eyebrows, and chins were adorned with tattoos created by pulling soot-dipped sinew through the skin with a needle. These tattoos likely represented each woman’s tribal and familial relationships and would have been given to them at puberty and marriage.
Interestingly, the young female mummy did not bear any tattoos. This absence may suggest that she was either unmarried or had not yet reached puberty, providing further insights into the social and cultural practices of the Qilakitsoq community.
Indeed, the Qilakitsoq mummies played a pivotal role in advancing the field of mummy studies due to their impeccable preservation. The exceptional condition of these mummies allowed researchers to conduct detailed examinations of their physical remains, clothing, burial practices, and even the presence of tattoos and lice infestations. By studying these well-preserved specimens, scientists gained valuable insights into the lives, customs, and health conditions of the ancient Inuit population of Greenland. The findings from the Qilakitsoq mummies have contributed significantly to our understanding of human history, culture, and anthropology.
