Introduction

Greenland, the world’s largest island, is often associated with its dramatic arctic landscapes and its unique population. Recent advances in genetics are shedding new light on the ancestry of Greenland’s people, revealing a fascinating tapestry woven from ancient Inuit (Kalaallit) settlers and more recent European influences. This article reviews the latest scientific research to explain how modern Greenlanders represent a blend of these two peoples.

1. The First Arrivals: Ancient Inuit Settlers

For thousands of years, the harsh environment of Greenland was home only to Arctic-adapted peoples. The earliest inhabitants were Paleo-Inuit from the Saqqaq and later Dorset cultures, arriving as far back as 4,500 years ago. Genomic analysis (see Raghavan et al., 2014, Nature) shows these people were genetically distinct from later Inuit and had East Asian roots.

Around 800 years ago, the Thule people migrated from Alaska, replacing previous cultures and becoming the direct ancestors of modern Inuit Greenlanders (see Rasmussen et al., Science). These migrations shaped the early genetic landscape of Greenland, with a strong Arctic/Alaskan ancestry.

2. European Contacts and Colonization

Norse Vikings from Norway and Iceland settled Greenland around 985 CE, establishing two colonies that persisted for centuries (Margaryan et al., Nature). However, their settlement collapsed mysteriously in the 15th century, and there’s little genetic legacy from these early Norse populations in today's Greenlanders ([Margaryan et al.], Science Advances).

Starting in the 18th century, Greenland became a Danish colony, bringing renewed European settlement and admixture. Danish and other Northwest European populations left a significant genetic mark on the present-day population.

3. Recent Genomic Studies: Tracing the Mix

A series of recent studies has clarified how modern Greenlanders are genetically distinct from pure Inuit and also different from Europeans.

  • Nature Human Behaviour, 2022 (Skoglund et al.): This study confirms that Greenlanders share Inuit ancestry with other Arctic populations, but also carry considerable European (esp. Danish and NW European) ancestry. Admixture is recent, largely post-18th century.
  • Nature, 2024 (Margaryan et al.): Genome-wide data from Norse Greenlanders confirm limited gene flow between this group and the Inuit ancestors of modern Greenlanders.
  • Current Biology, 2021 (Ahlström et al.): This paper quantifies modern Greenlanders’ genomes as being up to 25-27% European, with the rest Inuit.
  • Science Advances, 2024 (Rasmussen et al.): This study further confirms the mix and highlights how Inuit genetic adaptations to cold climates persist in modern Greenlanders despite the recent admixture.

4. The Genetic Legacy Today

Today, the average Greenlander’s genome is predominantly Inuit, but up to one-third is Northwest European. This mixed heritage has medical and cultural consequences, such as unique health challenges and ongoing discussions about identity.

This genetic admixture is easily visible in analyses of Greenland’s population, and in genetic studies aiming to understand inherited diseases and adaptations to Arctic living.

 

Conclusion

Modern Greenlanders are not direct descendants of a single migration or culture. Instead, their ancestry illustrates the meeting of two worlds: the ancient Arctic hunters and gatherers of the Canadian and Alaskan North, and the more recent settlers and administrators of Europe. Together, they have produced a vibrant, unique population in one of the world’s most extreme environments.