Discovery of a Newly Found Church in Kinngua
In 2026, archaeologists uncovered a previously unknown Scandinavian church near Kinngua, close to Narsarsuaq in Greenland. This marks the first discovery of its kind in more than 60 years. The excavation was led by the National Museum of Denmark, which has been investigating the site since the early 2000s. Among the findings was a skeleton buried with its head facing east, consistent with medieval Christian burial customs. The church’s construction is estimated to date back between 1100 and 1300 AD, highlighting the growth of Scandinavian settlements in the area during that era.
Insights into Social Organization and Archaeological Evidence
Within a relatively small area around Kinngua, six churches have been identified, though only three were still in use during the Middle Ages. Kinngua lies near Brattalid, the main settlement founded by Erik the Red, who established the Scandinavian community in Greenland around the late 10th century. These communities, known as Eystriggjars (Eastern Settlement) and Vestribyggjar (Western Settlement), flourished for several centuries starting circa 985 AD. However, archaeological traces of Norwegian presence faded by the 15th century, likely due to climatic shifts that caused rising sea levels and severe coastal flooding.
Excavations also revealed the remains of two or three farms adjacent to the newly discovered church, suggesting a broader social framework within these medieval Scandinavian communities. Historical documents mention a church called Kirkja undir Sólarfjöllum (Church beneath the Sun Mountains), which may correspond to the Kinngua site.
According to Konrad Smyrowski, a researcher at the University Museum of Bergen and co-leader of the project, “medieval sources such as the Flateyjarbók and Greenlandic descriptions are linked to Ivar Bardarson.”
This discovery provides compelling evidence, as noted by Christian Edelfeldt Koch Madsen, senior researcher at the National Museum of Denmark and project coordinator, emphasizing the importance of understanding Greenland’s medieval social structures and the development of Scandinavian communities over centuries. It also opens avenues for locating additional medieval churches in the region, underscoring the critical role of archaeology in uncovering the unique history of Greenland.
The unearthing of the church in Kinngua significantly enriches knowledge about Scandinavian settlements in Greenland. Despite their isolation, these communities maintained complex social systems and religious traditions. This finding not only confirms the presence of Christianity but also reflects the connection between Greenland’s Scandinavian settlers and broader European medieval culture. Continued archaeological work promises to shed further light on the lives and customs of Greenland’s inhabitants during this pivotal historical period.