Ethnographic Description of the Eskimo Settlements 



277 



Winter-house 393 was found 3 meters west of 392 and was 

 almost of the same size as this; it was so much broken down that 

 I did not endeavour to measure it. Close up to the east wall was 

 seen an open, four-sided, stone space (394) which lay under the sur- 

 face — certainly a permanent meat-depot. It was 0*47 M. along the 

 side and 032 M. deep. Round stones lay scattered over the bottom 

 so that their upper edge formed a kind of paving. 



A similar space (395) was found ca. 45 meters N. N. E. of the 

 winter-house 392. It was 1-25 M. long, 060 M. broad, 040 M. deep, 

 open and full of sand. 



This is the only place in these latitudes, where the permanent 

 meat-depots at the winter-houses lie below the ground. I believe 

 that these meat-depots have at one time stood free above the 

 ground; but in course of time, owing to refuse from the houses or 

 blood etc. from the depots themselves, vegetation has grown up and 

 thus raised the level round about. This occurs more often in the 

 southerly parts of Greenland, where the vegetation is much richer. 



The tent-ring (396) was found ca. 15 meters S. E. of the winter- 

 houses. It was circular, 242 M. in diameter, formed of ordinary 

 stones, which now lay 8 to 10 cm. below the ground. The door 

 opening faced the south and was 067 M. broad. East of the door- 

 way a row of stones (a large and a small stone), 0-70 M. long, led 

 outwards. There was no special platform. The ring lay ca. 10 

 meters from the old shore-line, which was very distinctly marked 

 and along it bone remains were found. The bones lay especially 

 near the tent-ring and right down from the winter-houses. (Hare, 

 bearded seal, fjord seal). 



A broken-up, temporary meat-store (397) was found ca. 10 meters 

 S. E. of the tent-ring. 



There was a considerable amount of vegetation in a hollow 

 behind the winter-houses. There has probably been a small fresh- 

 water pool here earlier; later it has turned into a bog and is now 

 overgrown with moss, with a little heather and willow. 



In the central group were 5 winter-houses, which were all very 

 old and sunken, so much so that it was even very difficult to see 

 them at all. They were in part situated on the south bank of the 

 freshwater pool. 



