The Kensington Runestone

The Finding:

Back in 1898, Swedish immigrant, Olof Ohman, was plowing his field with his son, Edward. The decided to uproot an old tree that was presumably to expand the size of their field. When the tree fell, they noticed a large stone measuring thirty-six inches by fifteen inches by six inches attached to the knurled roots. To their amazement, the stone was covered in markings of Norse origins. Word about the find spread like wildfire. Curious citizens, researchers, and experts of Norse runes became hypnotized by the stone and studied its origin. And so the controversy began.

Rune Translation:

Front-

Eight Gotalanders and 22 Norwegians on

Reclaiming journey from

From Vinland to the West. We

Had a camp by two _____ one

Day's journey north from this stone.

We were fishing one day. Father

We came home we found 10 men red

From blood and death. Ave Maria

Save us from evil.

Side:

There are 10 by the sea to look

After our ships fourteen days journey

From this island. Year 1362.

(Translation from Alice Beck Kehoe's book, The Kensington Runestone: Approaching a Research Question Holistically)

Evidence in Support of Authenticity:

- In 1981 The Minnesota Historical Society searched the area where the stone was found. Their reaserchers found more stones that had holes chiseled out. These stones are thought to tie off boats to and were allegedly used by the Vikings.

-The Ho-Chunk nation have stories of meeting red haired giants, whom the allegedly fought and intermarried with. Science has proven that the Ho-Chunk had an outbreak of tuberculosis, a typically European disease, about 1,000 years ago.

-In 1971, more stones, similar to the Kensington Stone were found in Maine. These stones also had the hooked X, which is a highly distinctive symbol.

Evidence Against Authenticity:

-In 1899 Olous Breda and Hjalman Holand, two Norse linguists, found that the Kensington Runestone's inscription used the diction someone not from the 1362 time period. (Meaning the language on the stone was too modern.)

-It is possible that Ohman might have known Norse.

Conclusion:

No one can prove or disprove the validity of the stone. I believe that is why the story of the Kensington Runestone has stayed with us for so long. Real or Fake? It's up to you to decided.

....Stay Tuned....

Sources and Further Readings:

The Kensington Runestone: Approaching a Research Question Holistically by Alice Beck Kehoe

The Kensington Rune Stone: Compelling New Evidence by Richard Nielsen and Scott F. Wolter

The Hooked X: Key to the Secret History of North America by Scott F. Wolter