Viking Exploration and Settlement Beyond Newfoundland: Evidence from North America
The Vikings, specifically the Norse explorers from Greenland, are renowned for their daring expeditions into North America around the year 1000 AD. The most well-documented site of their settlement is L'Anse aux Meadows, located on the northern tip of Newfoundland in present-day Canada. This site is considered strong evidence of Viking presence in North America.
Further Exploration and Later Evidence
From L'Anse aux Meadows, the Vikings likely ventured further south and west along the coast. However, despite their explorations, there is no definitive evidence of permanent settlements beyond Newfoundland. Yet, recent discoveries have provided compelling evidence of Viking activity and settlements further south in North America.
Among the intriguing findings are clear images captured in my ‘unearthedassets’ Instagram gallery. These images depict more than one Norse community in the Southwestern United States, including a never-before-seen Viking burial ceremony. The burial ceremony features an elaborate Viking chieftain and his woman seated inside a dugout canoe-type vessel, with larger than life and extremely well-preserved earth carvings adorning the surrounding area. Moreover, in the vicinity, there are twenty-four crude graves with coordinates marking their positions.
Iconic Viking Structures in the Desert Southwest
Another fascinating discovery is an enormous Viking longboat perched 50 feet above the desert floor on a high bluff. This longboat is a testament to the Vikings' advanced shipbuilding and navigation skills, as evidenced by its impressive construction and preservation. Below this longboat, a depiction of Odin mourning the lifeless body of his youngest son, Baldur the Beautiful, stands in stark contrast to the harsh desert landscape.
Interestingly, on one side of the landscape, a monument to Odin can be found. It is not only the monument but also a pyramid located in the American Southwest, which is a Thor monument and a monument to Thor's goats. These structures suggest a deep cultural and religious connection between the Vikings and the local inhabitants, indicating a level of integration and interaction that is currently not well-documented in historical records.
Christian Influence and Vikings in the Southwest
Among the most striking discoveries is an enormous Crucifixion depiction in the American Southwest. Directly above where it reads “Tomb” is a second tomb that appears to be mostly inlaid rock and designed to look like part of an extended arm of an etching of a young man pointing towards and directly at the Christ figure. The rock formation below also points to the Crucifixion depiction, symbolizing a significant cultural and religious exchange between the Vikings and the indigenous people of the region.
These findings not only provide physical evidence of Viking presence in the Southwestern United States, but also hint at a more complex cultural interaction. The Vikings likely engaged in trade, spiritual practices, and even intermarriage, which influenced the landscape and culture of the region.