Insects in an abandoned landscape: late Holocene palaeoentomological investigations at Sandhavn, Southern Greenland

Abstract

The late Holocene landscape and environment at Sandhavn in Greenland's Eastern Settlement are considered in the light of recent palaeoentomological investigations. Samples dating to post-Norse peat accumulation suggest that Norse activity had no lasting effect on the beetle fauna and environment at Sandhavn after its abandonment in the Medieval period. The faunas recovered may be assumed to be characteristic of the surrounding environment, and indicate that the site was situated in an area of wetland and heath. The assemblages are discussed in the context of the sub-fossil and modern coleopteran faunal history of the North Atlantic islands, and as evidence for post-abandonment environmental conditions in Greenland.

Keywords:

• GREENLAND
• PALAEOENTOMOLOGY
• COLEOPTERA
• BIOGEOGRAPHY
• POST-NORSE