(June 26, 2025) Photo by Ontario Centre for Archaeological Research & Education at: https://www.ocare.ca
This photo is a top view showing that 15 lines of runes were carved on a slab of rock laying on the ground. On the right is carving of a Viking longboat containing about 16 occupants and flanked by several crosses. In autumn of 2018, Ontario Centre for Archaeological Research & Education (OCARE) was contacted by a local Wawa historian about a potential rock carving (petroglyph). Initial research and a site visit was carried out in October of 2018.
Surprisingly, this runestone is authentic making it one of the most important discoveries in North American archeaology because it shows the Vikings were exploring as far as Hudson Bay and the Great Lakes. It is mostly in the Swedish (inland) letter style dating to between 700 and 1200 CE with Danish letters being Z and B.. It likely is from a fur trading or exploration expedition.
The closest undisputed Viking settlement in North America is L'Anse aux Meadows on the northern tip of Newfoundland, Canada. It has carbon dating estimates ranging from 990 and 1050 CE and tree-ring dating of 1021 CE.
(June 22, 2024) This boat is Viking in style with high bow and stern posts. Notice it has no sail so it was being rowed with 8 men on each side. Around it are crosses which may indicate they were attacked by natives.
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