Nunniffiit: An Online Resource for Protecting Greenland's Heritage

Nunniffiit is Greenland’s official national registry of archaeological sites and historical remains. It serves as a comprehensive digital archive of Greenland’s cultural heritage, documenting the island's many phases of settlement that include Paleo-Inuit, Norse, Thule Culture and Historic Inuit sites, and the remains of Colonial European and WWII-era activity.

For Expedition Teams and Operators, Nunniffiit should be primarily used as a heritage sensitivity map that provides a high-level overview of the density of ancient sites within a specific locality. It serves as a mandatory reminder that Greenland’s wilderness is a cultural landscape where archaeological remains are often subtle, fragile, and not immediately visible to the untrained eye.

While this resource is a valuable addition to your planning toolkit, it is not an exhaustive guide or a "green light" for site access. Expedition Teams and Operators must use this data to maintain professional situational awareness and exercise the highest degree of caution. Because these areas are protected under Greenlandic Heritage Law, the NKA requires that all visitors adhere to a strict "leave no trace" approach when visiting a heritage site or protected cultural area.

Navigating Data Discrepancies
Please be aware that Nunniffiit is an evolving record in a constant state of refinement. Expedition Teams and Operators must account for the following limitations:

• Spatial Accuracy: Many sites were documented decades ago using manual plotting on paper charts, long before the precision of modern GPS. Consequently, a site’s actual location on the ground may differ significantly from its plotted coordinates in the database.
• Blind Spots: A lack of registered sites in a specific area on the map does not imply that the area is free of ancient remains or settlements. Significant portions of the coastline and inland areas remain unsurveyed, and many archaeological features have yet to be formally recorded.
• Attribute Variations: The descriptions and classifications within the database are based on historical surveys and may not reflect the full archaeological complexity of a site. For example, features recorded as temporary camps may, upon modern inspection, may reveal more sensitive elements such as burials or multi-component habitations.

Protocols for Field Encounters
If visitors should encounter features that appear to be of ancient origin, these steps must be followed to protect the integrity of the site:

• Artifact Integrity: Visitors must never pick up, remove, or alter ancient remains or surface artifacts. Even seemingly insignificant items are part of the archaeological record; their removal destroys the scientific context of the site and is a violation of Greenlandic law.
• The Two Meter Rule: When navigating around known or suspected archaeological features, a minimum distance of 2 meters must be maintained at all times. This prevents accidental trampling, erosion, or disturbance of sensitive features such as tent rings, graves, or turf walls.
• Document and Divert: If you believe you have discovered an ancient remain or structure that is currently unregistered, we encourage you to take a high-resolution photograph and record a GPS waypoint from a safe distance. Immediately re-route your group away from the area and continue the excursion in a non-sensitive zone.
• Report to the NKA: Please submit your photographs and coordinates arkaeolog@natmus.gl Your field observations are essential to our ongoing efforts to verify site data and safeguard Greenland’s cultural landscape!