L’Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland: Vikings in North America
Legends have always suggested the Vikings made it to America before Columbus. Actual evidence exists in Newfoundland to substantiate this, as at the tip of the most northerly peninsula, there are the remains of an 11th century Viking settlement.
The site, at L’Anse aux Meadows, was unearthed in the 1960s. It consists of eight houses, one forge and four workshops, made out of cutting peat turf buildings exactly like Viking structures in Iceland and Greenland. Viking finds on the site, which includes everyday objects such as a stone oil lamp and a birch bark case, match the style of those found in 11th century Norway.
It seems that the site may have been a stopping point for the maintenance and repair of boats. A forge was discovered with 50 iron objects around it, such as late Norwegian style belt buckles and nails and rivets, all made from the local source of bog iron.
Perhaps the site at L’Anse aux Meadows was a stepping stone towards the ultimate goal of colonization of mainland North America. Whatever its ultimate purpose, the site was short-lived as it was only occupied for a few years, suggesting any such attempt was doomed to failure. But once again, archaeology substantiates the Saga’s claims that the Vikings did indeed reach North America, making them the first Europeans to do so.
Sources For Further Reading:
Life in Norway: Why Did The Viking Age Start?
The National News – When The Arabs Met The Vikings: New Discovery Suggests Ancient Links
Hubpages – The Viking Diet and the Viking Physique
History Channel – Globetrotting Vikings: The Quest for Constantinople