East Settlement

The East Settlement was one of two main Norse settlements established in Greenland around 986 CE by Erik the Red. Located near present-day Qaqortoq, it was part of a larger Norse colonization effort that may have supported 3,000 to 6,000 people on approximately 280 farms. Christianity was introduced in the 11th century, and a bishopric was established in 1126. By the 14th century, the Norse settlements began to decline, possibly due to climate cooling, and ceased to be inhabited in the 15th century. The Norse settlers also interacted with the Inuit Thule culture, which appeared in northern Greenland around 1100.12