Quote:
Originally Posted by Pete
At the time of the first settlements they could "settle the area." Greenland was established during the Medieval warm period that lasted from about 800-1300. The last written record from Greenland was from 1408.
The Norse who settled on the Greenland Coast transplanted their agriculural society to the area. During the warm period that and trade with the east worked well.
With the coming cold the grazing was reduced and trade with the east slowed. The Greenlanders failed to change with the times, shrank into smaller communities and died out.
There were native cultures near the Norse folks but they failed to learn from them and switch to a sea related community or to suppliment their agricultural life with sea produce. A study of the later trash piles show very little ocean related bones compared to land animals.
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That's a very interesting point. Could have the two cultures ultimately survived independently of other influences? Even with adapting to changing climate conditions, animal migration, diverse food sources, etc. I would think they could have if land was consistanly being made available to support an ever increasing population. Could they have remained a culture unique unto themselves, or is "inter-marriage" part of natural selection. Many have speculated why the Anasazi Indians "just" disappeared. I dare venture, they simply moved.