Sandnæs, often
anglicized as Sandnes, was the largest
Norse farmstead in the
Western Settlement of medieval
Greenland.[1] Similarly with the
Norwegian city of
Sandnes, its name meant "Sandy Headland" in
Old Norse. It was settled around AD 1000[1] and abandoned by the late 14th century. It was located at the site known as Kilaarsarfik[2] today,[3] at the head of the
Ameralla Fjord south of modern
Nuuk's peninsula.
The farm was well-placed and possessed a large pasturage enabling its proprietors to successfully raise cattle, compared with goats and sheep at the other Western Settlement farms. It also included the area's church.[3] However, the conditions throughout the site's existence were apparently filthy.[4]