Medieval History
For the past 50 years?since the discovery of a thousand-year-old Viking way station in Newfoundland?archaeologists and amateur historians have combed North America's east coast searching for traces of Viking visitors.
It has been a long, fruitless quest, littered with bizarre claims and embarrassing failures. But at a conference in Canada earlier this month, archaeologist Patricia Sutherland announced new evidence that points strongly to the discovery of the second Viking outpost ever discovered in the Americas.
While digging in the ruins of a centuries-old building on Baffin Island, far above the Arctic Circle, a team led by Sutherland, adjunct professor of archaeology at Memorial University in Newfoundland and a research fellow at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, found some very intriguing whetstones. Wear grooves in the blade-sharpening tools bear traces of copper alloys such as bronze?materials known to have been made by Viking metalsmiths but unknown among the Arctic's native inhabitants.
Taken together with her earlier discoveries, Sutherland's new findings further strengthen the case for a Viking camp on Baffin Island. "While her evidence was compelling before, I find it convincing now," said James Tuck, professor emeritus of archaeology, also at Memorial University.
Click here to read this article from National Geographic
See also our feature on L?Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland
- Three Medieval Archaeological Discoveries: Newfoundland, Egypt And Cambodia
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- Volcanic Activity Behind Little Ice Age
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- Viking Boat Burial Site Discovered In Scotland
Great Britain?s first fully intact Viking boat burial site has been discovered by archaeologists working in northwest Scotland. The 5 meter-long grave contained the remains of a high status Viking, who was buried with an axe, a sword with a beautifully...
- L?anse Aux Meadows Site Celebrates 50 Years Since Discovery
Last week the government of Canada marked the 50th anniversary of the discovery of the Viking remains at the L?Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland. The national historic and World Heritage site was discovered by Helge and Anne Stine Instad, and their guide,...
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Orkney's Christian Viking Heritage Historic church may become visitor centre and museum CBA Wessex Autumn Conference: Saturday and Sunday 1st -2nd November 2008 Newfoundland Viking site remarkable Kimmirut site suggests early European contact UN...
Medieval History
Evidence of Viking Outpost Found in Canada
It has been a long, fruitless quest, littered with bizarre claims and embarrassing failures. But at a conference in Canada earlier this month, archaeologist Patricia Sutherland announced new evidence that points strongly to the discovery of the second Viking outpost ever discovered in the Americas.
While digging in the ruins of a centuries-old building on Baffin Island, far above the Arctic Circle, a team led by Sutherland, adjunct professor of archaeology at Memorial University in Newfoundland and a research fellow at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, found some very intriguing whetstones. Wear grooves in the blade-sharpening tools bear traces of copper alloys such as bronze?materials known to have been made by Viking metalsmiths but unknown among the Arctic's native inhabitants.
Taken together with her earlier discoveries, Sutherland's new findings further strengthen the case for a Viking camp on Baffin Island. "While her evidence was compelling before, I find it convincing now," said James Tuck, professor emeritus of archaeology, also at Memorial University.
Click here to read this article from National Geographic
See also our feature on L?Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland
- Three Medieval Archaeological Discoveries: Newfoundland, Egypt And Cambodia
Here are three reports of medieval discoveries from around the world... NewfoundlandWe know that the Vikings tried to create a settlement at L'anse aux Meadows on Newfoundland around the year 1000. A report by Owen Jarus at LiveScience adds that these...
- Volcanic Activity Behind Little Ice Age
Melting icefields on Baffin Island, one of the clearest signs of climate change on Earth, have yielded the strongest evidence yet for the timing and cause of another major climate event from the planet's past: the so-called Little Ice Age, a sudden...
- Viking Boat Burial Site Discovered In Scotland
Great Britain?s first fully intact Viking boat burial site has been discovered by archaeologists working in northwest Scotland. The 5 meter-long grave contained the remains of a high status Viking, who was buried with an axe, a sword with a beautifully...
- L?anse Aux Meadows Site Celebrates 50 Years Since Discovery
Last week the government of Canada marked the 50th anniversary of the discovery of the Viking remains at the L?Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland. The national historic and World Heritage site was discovered by Helge and Anne Stine Instad, and their guide,...
- Medieval News Of The Week
Orkney's Christian Viking Heritage Historic church may become visitor centre and museum CBA Wessex Autumn Conference: Saturday and Sunday 1st -2nd November 2008 Newfoundland Viking site remarkable Kimmirut site suggests early European contact UN...