Greenland: Day One (cont): The Ruins

Qassiarsuk is the spot that Erik the Red chose to settle. He named it “Brattahlid” which means steep slope.

We saw the ruins of his Viking house, the church built by his son, Leif Erikson ( who became a Christian but Erik the Red never did), and ruins of a traditional Inuit home as well as replicas of all three.

Erik the Red’s house spot

Based on the stones, you can tell this was a place for cattle. The Vikings kept livestock in their homes in separate rooms.

Cattle separating stones

Difficult to see but a fossilized (?) cow bone

Jara showing us the replica of the first church

Entrance to replica of Erik the Rex’s house

Clothing exhibit in the replica of the house

Exhibit of Inuit and Viking tools

Still inside the Viking house

Marker to show where was an Inuit home

Entrance to Inuit home

Replica of Inuit home

Inside! Three or four families would have lived here together all winter!

The “proper door” to the home which I used correctly

Nothing to do with the ruins…this is modern day building where school children sleep if the weather is too bad to return home

The modern day school

The view from my bed the first night (approximately 10 PM)