Case Studies:Case study 26

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Soils and Palaeo-climate based evidence for irrigation requirements in Norse Greenland
Paul Adderley and Ian Simpson

Abstract
Norse settlements in Greenland, abandoned in the late 15th or early 16th centuries, may have required irrigation for grass production, as present day farmers do. It is asked here if irrigation was required by the Norse settlers to maintain grass production, and if so how often? Two study sites were investigated around Tunindliiarfik Fjord: Qassiarsuk and Tasersuaq.

To assess the transfer of water through the Norse home-field soils a set of in situ measurements of field-saturated hydraulic conductivity were obtained using a Guelph Permeameter. To consider the need for water management on grass growth a field-level model of soil-water-plant interactions was used to caculate the soil-water balance on a daily basis for the period 1980 to 2003.

The evidence shows that the settlers regularly faced one of two different soil-plant-climate issues to maintain fodder production. In years with relative warm winters, the increased growing season will have led to increased water demand from the grass crop, potentially demanding irrigation. Conversely, exceptionally cold winters appear to be linked to subsequent moisture deficits, and again a demand for irrigation.

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[[media:Case study 26.pdf|Soils and Palaeo-climate based evidence for irrigation requirements in Norse Greenland]]

The full article is Adderley, W.P. and I.A. Simpson (2006) Soils and Palaeo-climate based evidence for irrigation requirements in Norse Greenland Journal of Archaeological Science 33: 1666-1679

Keywords: Greenland, Tunindliiarfik Fjord, Qassiarsuk, Tasersuaq, Medieval, irrigation, farming, climate, guelph permeameter, ice-core

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