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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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
....to be continued.