Ruin Island facts for kids
Ruin Island with Cape Russell in Background
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 Ruin Island
Location in Greenland
Ruin Island (Greenland)
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Greenland |
| Coordinates | 78°52.1′N 69°11.3′W / 78.8683°N 69.1883°W |
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Greenland
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Ruin Island is a small island located off the coast of northwest Greenland. It is part of the Inglefield Land region. This island is famous because archaeologists found signs of ancient human life there. These discoveries helped us learn a lot about the early people who lived in the Arctic.
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History of Ruin Island
The first people known to live on Ruin Island were ancestors of today's Inuit people. They belonged to a group called the Thule culture. This culture is named after a nearby archaeological site.
Early Inhabitants
Scientists believe these Thule people arrived on Ruin Island between the years 1280 and 1330. They were skilled hunters and adapted very well to the cold Arctic environment. They built homes and used tools made from bone, stone, and animal hides.
Archaeological Discoveries
In the 1930s, a Danish archaeologist named Erik Holtved made important discoveries on Ruin Island. He found the remains of old homes and many tools. These findings showed how the Thule people lived, hunted, and survived in this challenging region. The items found here helped define a specific period of their history, known as the Ruin Island phase of Thule Culture.
Trade with Norse People
Interestingly, some items found on Ruin Island show that the Thule people traded with the Greenlandic Norse. These Norse people were Vikings who settled in Greenland. This trade shows that different groups of people interacted, even in remote Arctic areas.
