[Verginius Rufus]

Leif Eriksson is often given credit as having been the first European to see North America, but in fact that was Bjarni Herjolfsson, who saw Baffin Island and Labrador in 986 but did not land. Leif knew about this and even bought Bjarni's boat, and retraced Bjarni's route on his voyage of c. 1000.

Bjarni was trying to sail from Iceland to Greenland (which he had never been to before) when he was blown off course--he realized the lands he saw were not Greenland and he was in a hurry to get to Greenland which is why he did not stop to explore. His report came as news to the Norse already settled in Greenland so it is highly unlikely that any Norse settlements found in North America predate Leif's voyage.

[dfwgator]