Muskox preceded humans in northeast Greenland
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Researchers analysed ancient DNA from lake sediments in northeast Greenland to understand how plants, animals, and people interacted over time.
The team examined samples from Wandel Dal and Zackenberg, identifying plants and animal species present from 12,200 years ago to 1400 CE. They discovered muskox DNA continuously at Midsommersoe dating back 7,400 years ago, around three thousand years before the first human settlements.
The study revealed a warmer climate in the region between 8,200 and 3,900 years ago, followed by a rapid shift in plant life around 3,900 years ago. Reindeer lived in the area as recently as 6,000 years ago, though archaeological records show they disappeared after that. The arrival of the Thule culture around 1400 CE corresponded with minor increases in plant diversity and mammal detections, suggesting humans had a limited impact on animal populations.
The findings support the idea that muskox inhabited northeast Greenland before people arrived, and contribute to a better understanding of the region’s ecosystem history.
