The Vikings in America

The legend has it that Columbus was the first westerner to discover America, however, in 1960 a Viking settlement at L’Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland was discovered. The site was subsequently excavated which revealed a treasure trove of Viking Age artefacts. In 1978 the site was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and protected by international law.

L’Anse aux Meadows Viking Longhouse Reconstruction (Source: Parks Canada)

The settlement at L'Anse aux Meadows was abandoned after only a few years of use though and American archaeologists have spent the last fifty years looking for more evidence of Viking settlement in the North American continent. In a recent survey of satellite imagery, that had been used to find lost Egyptian cities, tombs and temples, Sarah Parcak located a potential new Viking settlement at Point Rosee in Canada.

Point Rosee from above (Source: BBC)

Looking for changes in the vegetation from satellite images the site was excavated and a hearth stone for iron forging was discovered close to a turf wall. Both indicative of Viking activity at the site! However, the work has not definitely proved the site to be Viking, but the indications are good and more work is planned for the future!

Remains of a possible turf wall at Point Rosee (Source: BBC)

We will keep an eye on the potential exciting finds from this site, but while you're here, please take a look at our catalogue of Viking and Norse equipment, click here https://www.norsefury.com

Thanks for reading!