I'm looking for more information on this one, sounds like a good topic to research for an upcoming show.
Captain Al
in Alberta, Canada Member
Posted: Fri May 27, 2005 | 09:11 PM
How could Norwegians have traveled all the way to present-day Minnesota in 1362 without leaving more evidence than this? If this were true, we would have known about it long ago.
Captain Al
in Alberta, Canada Member
Posted: Fri May 27, 2005 | 09:21 PM
Skepticality,
The person to interview for this story is Dr. Kenneth L. Feder, Department of Anthropology, Central Connecticut State University. He is the author of "Frauds, Myths and Mysteries, Science and Pseudoscience in Archaeology" and has dealt with subjects like this. Frauds, Myths and Mysteries
oooooooohhhh goody goody goody, the Knights Templar are involved! Maybe they brought the Holy Grail there, or the ten commandments, or the Ark of the Covenant, or the offspring of Jesus and Mary Magdalene... And Chuck, does this create a link between Minnesota, a monster/eel in Lake Superior, and Nessie? I tell ya, they were worshipping the Giant Eel! Probably sacrificing young virgins to it too....
Winona
in USA Member
Posted: Sat May 28, 2005 | 09:01 AM
oh! something i am interested in.
"How could Norwegians have traveled all the way to present-day Minnesota in 1362 without leaving more evidence than this? "
You're forgetting about L'Anse-aux-Meadows, where the Vikings settled 500 years before Columbus even thought of getting to N.America. That places them already in North America. Since they don't know what happened to the Vikings there, could it be possible that that was the jumping off point for them to go other places?
Plus, don't forget that many Iroquois had blue eyes when we got here.
Winona
in USA Member
Posted: Sat May 28, 2005 | 09:10 AM
plus, they have proven that the vikings could have gotten to north american in their longships - see Thor Heyrdahls' Kontiki and Ra expeditions , that showed such journeys were possible.
Hairy Houdini
Posted: Sat May 28, 2005 | 09:59 AM
Thor Heyerdahl RULES... I have a hardcover copy of "Aku Aku" by Thor, a first printing of "Kon-Tiki" in paperback, and a first print of "The Ra Expeditions", also in paperback... Nothing like Rapa Nui Rapture... Thor IS a Moa, I think
Winona
in USA Member
Posted: Sat May 28, 2005 | 10:43 AM
oh awesome hairy! we have the first ed. kon-tiki, but i've been keeping an eye out for others. i believe i have some other books on viking & viking style expoloration, but they are still buried in boxes from the move.
Captain Al
in Alberta, Canada Member
Posted: Sat May 28, 2005 | 10:47 AM
I didn't forget about L'Anse-aux Meadows. We know they were there because they left the evidence. If they had traveled further they would have left other evidence. The fact that no evidence for their presence is found between L'Anse-aux Meadows and Minnesota is a strong indication that they were not there unless they were able to fly.
Journeys like Heyerdahl's were not necessary to prove that early travel to North America was possible because we know their boats were seaworthy. It could theoretically be done in a bathtub if one were foolish enough to try. In fact there was a fellow from Ireland who crossed the Atlantic in a Zodiac inflatable. It shows that almost anything is possible if you are brave enough.
As for Heyerdahl, most anthropolgists discount his theories about human migration based on modern archaeological and DNA evidence.
Hairy Houdini
Posted: Sat May 28, 2005 | 11:02 AM
All too true about my man Thor, Capt Al... Thor proved more of what was Possible, rather than what was Probable, at least in terms of his Kon-Tiki and Ra adventures... he has, in his later years, in my understanding, gathered a great deal of oral and anecdotal evidence from Easter Islanders regarding their history... Thor is more of an adventurer, than scientist or archeologist... Hell of a guy, tho
Captain Al
in Alberta, Canada Member
Posted: Sat May 28, 2005 | 05:41 PM
Yup. He sure milked that Kon-Tiki stunt for all it was worth. It gave him the resources to make a career out of adventure. Ironically there was nothing to prove since we already knew some primitive civilizations make incredible sea voyages long ago. The Vikings, Polynesians and Chinese were well known for it.
To be fair though, I don't think Heyerdahl ever tried to deceive anybody. I think he really did believe the things he wrote about.
Maegan
in Tampa, FL - USA Member
Posted: Sun May 29, 2005 | 05:41 AM
...I have read lots of fiction stories that that are based on explorers coming to the American continents long before Columbus...so the idea itself doesn't really seem new. There is a lack of evidence though...I guess that's what makes it seem unlikely that anything really occured.
If someone came here to get away from persocutors, why would the encript proof? If they were alone...why would they feel a need to encript something?
BugbearSloth
in earth, 3rd planet, sol system Member
Posted: Sun May 29, 2005 | 09:40 AM
Meagan, they would encrypt it because they are the Knights Templar and don't want to give away the secret of the Oak Island money pit (where the holy grail AND the ark of the covenant are buried) to anyone but other Kights Templar:
It would seem more probable that Norwegians exploring North America 600 years ago would not leave much of a trace. Early American artifacts from 300 years ago are already fairly well buried when not used (such as New Amsterdam). Trying to find artifacts from Norwgian explorers would be like trying to find a very small needle in a very, very large haystack. Also, there is anecdotal evidence that Orientals and Africans travelled to South America hundreds of years ago in the way of statuary that have remarkable Oriental and Negroid features. Such pieces are very rare. Do they directly prove that such people visited South America a long time ago? No. But the statues did not apear out of thin air, either.
Hairy Houdini
Posted: Sun May 29, 2005 | 03:22 PM
hmmm...I decipher the inscription as: "spill the wine, dig that girl...you put your left foot in, you put your left foot out...30 yard dash to the out house, Willie make it, Betsy won't"...but- I used a Little Orphan Annie decoder ring, so, it might be a bit off by a letter or two. Sorta
Winona
in USA Member
Posted: Mon May 30, 2005 | 05:35 PM
I thought those decoder rings only ever spelled out "drink more ovaltine"
Hairy Houdini
Posted: Mon May 30, 2005 | 05:38 PM
or: "You'll shoot your eye out". Hey- I'm a fierce furnace fighter from wayback. I know this, because, I've recieved a major award.
Eoanthropus Dawsoni Member
Posted: Mon May 30, 2005 | 08:14 PM
More nonsense from Minnesota.
The Kensington Rune Stone is one of my favorite hoaxes. I find it quite amusing that so many people continue to take it seriously, but I guess that speaks quite well for whoever created the thing. It certainly did take some talent to pull that one off.
I've seen the rock a few times and have also visited Rune Stone Park in Douglas County MN. The runestone is kept at a museum in Alexandria MN (although it is occasionally gone on road trips). The actual site where it was "discovered" is 10-15 miles away, but they have a nice little park there and it is worth the drive if one has time.
In my opinion the best source on the Kensington Rune Stone is: The Kensington Rune Stone New Light on an Old Riddle, by Theodore Blegen and published by the Minnesota Historical Society. The book covers the linguistic and historic problems with the rune engraving and also closely examines some of the characters involved with the stone. I recommend it for anyone interested in the topic.
Winona
in USA Member
Posted: Mon May 30, 2005 | 09:05 PM
Hairy, last Christmas one of my favorite stores was selling a tshirt that had a pic of Ralphie, and 'you'll shoot your eye out, kid' on it. I've been regretting not buying it ever since.
