Skraeling Island facts for kids
 Skraeling Island
Location in Nunavut
Skraeling Island
Location in Canada
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Northern Canada |
| Coordinates | 78°54′43″N 075°38′00″W / 78.91194°N 75.63333°W |
| Archipelago | Queen Elizabeth Islands Canadian Arctic Archipelago |
| Length | 2,000 m (7,000 ft) |
| Width | 1,400 m (4,600 ft) |
| Administration | |
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Canada
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| Territory | Nunavut |
| Region | Qikiqtaaluk |
| Demographics | |
| Population | Uninhabited |
Skraeling Island is a small island located off the east coast of Ellesmere Island in Canada. It is part of Nunavut, a large territory in northern Canada. The island sits at the mouth of Alexandra Fiord, with Buchanan Bay to its northeast. Even though it is uninhabited today, Skraeling Island holds many secrets from the past.
Island History
Long ago, people from Norway and Denmark explored parts of Greenland and North America. They called the native peoples they met "skræling". This word was used to describe the indigenous groups living in these new lands.
The Norse sagas, which are old stories, mention that the Norse and the native peoples sometimes had conflicts. These stories suggest that the Norse considered the natives to be unfriendly because they were attacked at times.
Archaeological Discoveries
Skraeling Island is a very important place for archaeologists. An archaeological site is a place where scientists study human history by digging up old objects and buildings. On Skraeling Island, many ancient tools and items have been found.
These discoveries date back as far as 4500 BC. They belong to cultures known as Dorset and Thule. The Thule people are the ancestors of today's Inuit people.
Evidence of Trade
What makes Skraeling Island especially interesting is that archaeologists have found Norse items at Inuit sites. About 80 objects from one site show that there was a lot of trading between the Norse and the Inuit.
One amazing find was a small carving made from driftwood. It shows a face with features that look European. This suggests that not only did they trade goods, but they also exchanged ideas and perhaps even met each other.
