The Petra Zone

So in 1898 this rock with Viking runic markings on it was discovered tangled in the roots of a tree on a farm near Kensington, Minnesota.



The markings, as translated by scholars, read:

"Eight Goths and 22 Norwegians on a journey of exploration from Vinland very far west. We had camp by two rocky islands one day's journey north from this stone. We were out fishing one day. After we came home we found ten men red with blood and dead. AVM save from evil. Have ten men by the sea to look after our ships fourteen days' journey from this island. Year 1362"

So the first Europeans to explore North America were eight Swedes and 22 Norwegians. What do you think about that?

I lived in Alexandria, MN (Home of the Rhunestone) and have seen it. I can attest to the fact that it is real! (I think it is a menu from an ancient Nordic restaurant )

Don't know about that stone but there is plenty of evidence they were here long before that.

http://www.athenapub.com/vinland1.htm

http://www.isidore-of-seville.com/vinland/

Ah, the Vinland map. That's a debate that I haven't paid much attention to. There seems to be a consensus that the parchment is genuinely medieval, but that doesn't mean that the map drawn on it is old.

I'll give that website a look-see.

I just saw this thread, but even though it's older I wanted to follow up on it. Yes, I think that Leif Erikson visited Atlantic Canada back around 986, but there were many others who may have been even earlier. Also, who says that America was discovered by Europeans? There is also the west coast. The link below contains info, evidence, and stories of earlier explorers, including a buddhist monk from China named Heoi-Shin who travelled to the land of 'Fusang' in 499. It's all rather interesting reading. The short version is that many people discovered, and even settled in America long before Columbus.

http://muweb.millersville.edu/~columbus ... hagen.html

Interesting but the person who wrote that paper needs to look at a map.

That was more just to let you know the different theories and ideas. I'm sure there are better sources out there for more accurate info.