The Viking farm under the sand in Greenland

Express News ^ | 2004 | Teresa Brasen

[Burkeman1]

Fascinating story. I was unaware that the Vikings were actually the first Human presence in Greenland and that the Inuit came later.

[Howie66]

So that's where they grow Vikings? Amazing!

GO!! PACK!! GO!!

[Spruce]

I betcha if they find some ancient Lutfisk it would still be edible.(As edible as Lutfisk gets, that is)

[Pompah]

There are some who say that a group of NorseScots discovered North America and what is now the New England Coast long before Columbus sailed the Ocean blue.
Grave sites have been found in Massachusetts with Celtic Markings.

[Central Scrutiniser]

When I worked at the airlines, a few times I tried to plan a trip to Greenland, but a very small number of flights and weather/schedule problems meant I never got to go...bummer. Did Iceland a few times, a fantastic place to go, hightly recommend it.

[Spruce]

Some folk suppose the Vikings traveled even farther...

Kensington Runestone
The Kensington Runestone is a slab of Graywacke stone, grey in color, measuring 36 inches long, 16 inches wide, and 6 inches thick. It contains runic writing along the face of the stone and along one edge. The stone was found on the property of a Minnesota farmer named Olaf Ohman in November of 1898. Upon finding the stone, Mr. Ohman and his sons noted the runic letters, but could not decipher them. The stone was thereafter examined by many runic scholars, who discovered that the runes claimed to be an account of Norse explorers in the 14th Century. Many scholars who have since examined the stone have claimed it a childish forgery, some have testified to its authenticity. The stone currently resides in the Runestone Museum in Alexandria, Minnesota, the seat of the county in which the stone was found.

[Burkeman1]

They are disputed highly. There was a theory put forth by a rich Boston Yankee in the 19th century that the Vikings had settlements along the Charles River inland from Boston. He even had a statue commissioned of Eric the Red that still stands on Commonwealth Avenue to this day. The New Foundland settlement is the only verified Viking site in North America. The Minnisota stone is also highly suspect as it was dug up by a Swede on his farm.

It is verified that the Norse of Greenland visited North America often to fell much needed timber. And they may even have had extensive contact and trade with Inuit and Northern tribes like the Micmac. Some think they may have explored as far south as Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, and Cape Cod.

[farmfriend]

Gods, Graves, Glyphs
List for articles regarding early civilizations , life of all forms, - dinosaurs - etc.
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[Burkeman1]

I have heard Iceland is a great place to visit. They offer long weekend package deal flights to Iceland from Boston that are a steal. I plan on going one day.

[Burkeman1]

Add me to the list please.

[Spruce]

Please add me to this list.

[Spruce]

I don't think it is too far fetched to speculate Viking explorers made it to the great lakes, even further.

[Burkeman1]

Considering they established Kiev- no I don't think it far fetched either. I am just not convinced that the evidence exists to prove it.

[Burkeman1]

I think the Norse of Greenland did not have extensive contact with the "Skraelings" as they called the native peoples of Canada simply because they could have dominated trade by the simple fact that they had metal work technology the Inuit and Native Amercians did not have. The Indians and "eskimos" would have immediatley seen the advantage of Iron weapons and tools and traded almost anything for them. That metal working technology was not transferred to these peoples suggests they had limited if not almost totally hostile contact.

[bboop]

Well, sorry to say, but any Norskie worth their salt has been taught, from toddler days, that Eric the Red discovered America WAY before Christopher Columbus. There is no evidence? That only means it was not yet discovered. Trust me in this.

[Spruce]

Erik did not discover America. His father, Leif Erikson did. And he named it Vineland.

[Burkeman1]

Yes they did. But did they realize and exploit what they had discovered? No. Columbus and the Spanish did. Could they have? Even with superior Iron weapons most likely not.

[Burkeman1]

My bad. Your right.

[bboop]

Well, YEH, but CC had the King and Queen behind him and 400 years to fine-tune things. And the Vikings didn't like the Left Coast 'cuz of all the liberals...

[farmfriend]

Consider yourself added. If you ever change your mind, or I get you on the wrong list, just let me know.