Vinland Blog 2026
Introduction
I have always been interested in the Vikings, especially their visits to North America and the encounters with the natives (Skraelings). As if to spur this on, I was commissioned to build a model of a Viking Longship for our Local Scandinavian Cultural Center. Near the same time I obtained a copy of the book Westviking by Farley Mowat (1965) and after reading it, decided to take a vacation to Newfoundland where L' Anse Aux Meadows, the only verified Norse site in North America is located. What I learned in Newfoundland and the subsequent results of my research is remarkable.
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Probability Factor
PF1. Not likely. Prove to me that it is.
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| A detailed map of the Spirit Pond area showing longhouse and tablet find locations. (NEARA) |
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| The Kingittorsuaq runestone dated 1314 (Previously published on blog) |
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| The obverse of the Spirit Pond Amulet showing a cross. (Photo Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum, Decorah, Iowa) |
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| The reverse of the Spirit Pond amulet. (Photo Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum, Decorah, Iowa) |
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| The minor tablet found at Spirit Pond (Photo Scott Wolter ©2009) |
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| The Spirit Pond map stone. (Photo- NEARA) |
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| Drawing of the Spirit Pond map stone. |
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| The reverse of the Spirit Pond map stone (Wolter) |
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| The Spirit Pond runestone (Photo- NEARA) |
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| Drawing of the Spirit Pond Runestone |
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| Seventeen presage their doom |
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Archive 2025
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January 15
Welcome to 2026 and another year of the Vinland Blog. Before we get started I am pleased to announce the digital release of Twenty Five Doors today, a compedium of short stories and poems. Please e mail me if you would like a copy. Additionally, the SECOND EDITION of Kjalarnes Found is now available on AMAZON. Be sure to specify Second Edition when looking it up as the First Edition is now out of print.
Now, an interesting tidbit that just came out, then on to a very significant feature:
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Wood analysis of the Gardar Cathedral in Greenland (CE 1000-1350) has resulted in 26 separate fragments from North America. Experts conclude this is an indicator of 'sustained activity' with the New World. More detailed analysis is stating 350 years!
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Phillipsburg, Maine
Mooring Stone
Longhouse Foundation
Amulet 1971
Tablet 1971
Runestone - Map Stone 1971
Runestone - Inscription Stone 1971
In 1971 a discovery was made by Walter Elliot, a carpenter, searching for arrowheads at the south end of Spirit Pond where it meets the Morse River. It consisted of three carved stone tablets and an amulet. This (like usual) immediately begat claims of forgery, mainly because of the confusion of what was written on the inscription stone, which subsequently became known as the Spirit Pond Runestone.
A major detractor and so called expert whose name is not worth mentioning quickly quacked 'Hoax' because he did not understand what they were, claiming they were not eleventh century runes. Of course not, they are fourteenth or early fifteenth century. The runes have since been deciphered by knowledgeable linguists.
Unfortunately Walter Elliot passed away before the runes could be interpreted. Sadly, on his deathbed his last words were, "I just wanted to know what they said."
The runes on all these finds closely match those of the Kingittorsuaq runestone of Greenland (GR1) found in 1823. This story from the far north is dated 1314 in pendatic dating and is the same type of numbering as the date (1362) on the Kensington Runestone. The Narragansett stone also uses this evolved runic language.
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Mooring stone
Later searches of this area by Scott Wolter turned up a mooring stone.
PF 5
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Longhouse Foundations
The longhouse foundations were discovered by the New England Archaeological Research Association (NEARA). They were several hundred yards north of the 'hole stone' and made of sod with wooden floorboards. The bottom boards were carbon dated to 1405 +-40 with others showing habitation into the 1600s.
PF 5
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We now come to the items found in 1971. These were found several hundred yards south of the longhouse and about twenty five yards from the mooring stone. See the map.
Stone Amulet
This 2" x 3" oval Basalt stone amulet, holed at the top, features a Templar(?) Cross on one side; pendatic dating(20), VIN in Younger Futhark and what appears to be an Ogam symbol on the other. I am guessing twenty as well. I was fortunate to examine the museum copy at the Vesterheim Museum in Iowa which was identically reproduced from the original. The wear on the hole in the stone indicates it was worn for some time. (Take a look back at the Seneca Ladd Collection photo I posted last year.)
PF 5
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Tablet
This is also known as the Folk Stone. It is comprised of two rows of twelve symbols. Most are of Younger Futhark but also includes a Hooked X and a bind rune. It translates out to NORKSLOLK SPAEK. We will come back to this later. Most experts agree this tablet was used for testing carving purposes.
PF 5
February 15
Breaking news: A child's thigh bone fragment found along the coast of Labrador has been DNA tested and is NORSE! The Governments of Canada and Iceland plan to work together to mount an expedition to examine others sites along the coastline. Mallery identified fourteen sites along the coast of Labrador in 1946. After fifteen years of this blog it is pleasing to see the results turning up that I predicted years ago. Now to continue with the findings at Spirit Pond.
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The Map Stone
Known as the Map Stone this features a coastline with lettering and pendatic numerals. It contains the hooked X and secret Easter Table dating of 1402.Most experts agree that Norse maps of this age will generally have east at the top. The inscriptions seem to agree by generally following this direction but in this case an arrow points southwest to 'Vin'. Newport is approximately 50 miles away as the ship sails.
Vinland takes 2 days
When this triangular tablet is placed upright with the apex downward the map closely resembles the area of Spirit Pond. There is a fish hook shape to the land and the islands below are comparable up to and including (what to them was) heart shaped Seguin Island Light Station. There is an X on the map where the longhouse foundations were discovered. Remember that early map making will have distorted shorelines not only due to visual inconsistencies but we also cannot dismiss changes in topography over the centuries. This one is crude and hand drawn and the very first map to display the coastline of North America.
Numerous Younger Futhark runes are scattered across the map including the pendatic date 21.
The other side of the stone is rife with carved figures. At the top is the Younger Futhark runic inscription with a hooked X and bind rune that says something like RIMLAEKI. (Wolter suggests 'good land' in Algonquin but the word 'lake' also has Norse roots. (Loan words?) At the bottom is something in Ogam. Some experts suggest this is a 44, again confirming latitude.
Between this is a number of symbols of a very native appearance. Reading from top left is: fish, water bird, deer, snake; second row: shaman face, man paddling canoe over pelt, bow and arrow; at bottom left a final symbol appears to be an upside down tipi similar to the one on the New England Mystery Stone that we covered in our July 2025 blog entry. It could also be a crude attempt at the Ogam letter Iphin.Regardless, these mystery native symbols may lead to something further. Wolter's opinion is that these were carved as indicators of what was in the area. Let's look at another possibility. Perhaps these symbols are an Algonquin pictograph language in writing. Look at the photo of the Seneca Ladd collection in July of last year's blog after the mystery stone. There are numerous symbols inscribed on stone amulets similar to the ones above. The Bourne Stone and the Judacilla Rock are but a few that contain similar pictographs. Also, the more one googles it the more this is feasible. Take a look at this link:
But that is something for someone else in the future to research. I am searching for Viking or Viking related stuff.
The below link is a more detailed analysis of the Map Stone. What the author describes as far as the secret writing on the tablets say; I must admit that after fifteen years of searching for the Vikings, I find his conclusions to be a little extreme. Mind you, at one time I would have never believed the Norse to be in Oklahoma or the Beaufort Sea either. Time, technology and further research will tell if his translations are correct. We must keep an open mind.
PF 5
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The Inscription Stone
Now we come to the most baffling of the stones. This contains 16 lines of runes on two sides, the hooked X as well as barred runes comparable to those of the Ukna slab (Sweden 1325). It contains the pendatic numerals 44 which measures closely to 44 degrees latitude, the location where it was found. It has Easter Table dating to 1401.
There are conflicting translations about what these runes say and you can view some on the following links, but I believe the translation by Robert Johnson and Janey Westin in The Last Kings of Norse America to be the most accurate, as we will see. (Remember, when a correct research path is followed it will always result in further revelations.) I would recommend this book, for the authors' viewpoints are critical in finding the correct history of Pre Columbus North America (PCE). Another book important to our studies here is The Hooked X by Scott Wolter.
Here are a couple other varying opinions:
Noahs Age Numerologist Viewpoint
Spirit Pond Runestone translation
Here is the translation by Johnson/Westin. I have put in the punctuation which will help us to make sense of it. This is a sample of a typical, Norse style epic poem:
Fallen kinsman, ever valiant fellows.
A roaring sea struck seventeen dead.
Hail to you, weeping fountains.
Year 20 we lost the company of twelve companions.
12 daghrise westward, 10 daghrise northward.
The saga of a young Folkung. Bearded chief man Haakon discovered a circle by being able to sail towards the west on the lakes of the trade empire.
Weeping fountains. Year 21.
A shout into the burning lights! Blessed Maria. Alas!
Powerless those on the Seal Ship to proceed to obtain an edge to devote attention in regard to win the ship against the terrible storm.
Seventeen presage their inevitable battle stroke,
accept the sinking,
the bane of their approaching death.
Hail to you weeping fountains. Year 21.
Abbreviations on this stone are similar to those on the KRS.There are bind runes, bars, dotted Rs and the hooked X present.
....to be continued.