 | Wool Cape and Hats
Well-preserved clothing unearthed in the gravesites indicates that the Vikings's dress may not have been well suited for the Greenland climate, especially during the early 15th century. Scientists believe a mini Ice Age struck the island around this time and that the clothes, similar in style to contemporary European fashion, did not afford the Viking settlers enough protection from the elements and may have contributed to their demise.
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Human Bones
An examination of human bones indicates that the Vikings living in Greenland during the 14th and 15th centuries had a shorter life span, and skull x-rays reveal that many suffered from middle ear disease. Both problems are attributed to a worsening of living conditions.
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 | Skull
Teeth from Viking remains verify findings from ice core analysis -- a drop in surface temperature on Greenland during the later settlement period (late 14th and early 15th centuries). Measuring the oxygen isotope ratio of tooth enamel provides scientists with a record of what the temperature was like when the person was alive.
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