Reporting New Sites and Reporting Incidents

While exploring Greenland's vast coastline and inland areas, Expedition Teams may encounter unrecorded archaeological remains or observe damage to known cultural sites. Because significant portions of the coastline and inland areas remain unsurveyed, field observations from the cruise industry are vital to the ongoing effort to verify site data and safeguard Greenland’s cultural landscape.

If you discover a new site or encounter a situation requiring attention—such as erosion, vandalism, or accidental disturbance—please follow this reporting protocol:

Field Protocol: Record and Move
If you believe you have discovered an ancient remain or structure that is currently unregistered, or if you encounter a site in distress, these steps must be followed:

• Secure the Area: Immediately re-route your group away from the area to prevent accidental disturbance.
• Maintain Safe Distance: Ensure all staff and passengers maintain a minimum distance of 2 meters from any suspected features.
• Document from a Distance: Take high-resolution photographs of the site and its surroundings from a safe distance.
• Capture Coordinates: Record a precise GPS waypoint of the location (Decimal Degrees preferred).
• Artifact Integrity: Do not pick up, remove, or alter any ancient remains or surface artifacts, as this destroys the scientific context and violates Greenlandic law.

Submission Checklist
To ensure your report is actionable for the NKA, please include the following details in your email to arkaeolog@natmus.gl:

1. Operator Details: Your name, vessel name, and company.
2. Date and Time: The specific date and time of day the discovery or incident occurred.
3. Passenger Count: The number of cruise passengers currently on shore at the time.
4. Location: GPS coordinates and a brief description of the geographic area (Decimal Degrees).
5. Site Condition: Specify if this is a "New Discovery" or a "Report of Incident" (e.g., natural erosion, modern foot traffic damage, or vandalism).
6. Visual Evidence: Attach the high-resolution photographs taken in the field.

Why Reporting Matters
Nunniffiit is an evolving record in a constant state of refinement. Your field observations are essential to bridging the gap between historical paper charts and modern GPS accuracy. By reporting new finds and incidents, Expedition Teams and Operators directly contribute to the preservation of Greenland’s heritage.