Soils of Some Norse Settlements in Southwestern Greenland

Soils of some former Norse settlements in southwestern Greenland were investigated and found to have well- developed, brightly coloured soil profiles in spite of the high latitude. The soils are generally acidic, sandy, strongly organic and high in exchange cations. Iron extraction data suggest a moderate degree of pedologic activity. The presence of smectite and interstratified hydroxy-aluminum vermiculite is likely representative of an early stage of neomineral formation in an area which has probably been ice-free for at least 8000 years. In the areas visited, there was no evidence in the soil to suggest that extensive soil erosion was responsible for the abandonment of these settlements.