Biggest Hoax in Minnesota History? Or More Than Meets The Eye?
So... Did the Vikings really stop in Minnesota for Lefse and Lutefisk back in the 1300s?
Most experts in the field of archeology will tell you "No way no how", but back in 1898 a Minnesota farmer made everyone rethink everything they thought they knew about the Vikings and their history on the American Continent.
His name was Olof Ohman, a descendent of the Norse himself. Olof was born in Sweden, but like many Europeans of that time, immigrated to the United States to make a life out of farming in the Midwest.
On that fateful day, Olof reported that while working his plow in his field, he unearthed a giant mysterious object. This object had clearly been worked on by man, as their was ancient writing all over it. It was also MASSIVE. We're talking over 200 pounds.
Strange Markings
It was Olof's 10-year-old son who first noticed the unusual markings. Initially they were thought to be the ancient writing of Native Americans, however, not long after its discovery, experts pointed to a far more puzzling and controversial finding.
When local experts were brought in to decipher the ancient runes, it was discovered that they were of Norse origin and what was written on the stone documented the journey of over 30 men (Vikings) who made their way deep into the American continent in 1362.
Naturally, Olof, being Swedish himself, thought this was pretty cool. He showed the stone to his neighbors, local papers, and pretty soon, news of the stone began to spread like prairie fire.
Scandinavian pride runs deep in Minnesota, and at first, a lot of locals believed him. But the experts? They weren't having it.
Specialists from the University of Minnesota and even the Smithsonian were eventually brought in and they questioned the validity of the stone's origin almost immediately. Their reasoning? The runes used for the language on the stone were a mix of old, but also modern letters. In fact, some of the letters didn't even exist back in the 1300s.
When it was later discovered (in the 1960s) that Norse Vikings did, in fact, make it to the North American continent, well before Christopher Columbus the debate over the stone reignited. However, it was determined that Leif Ericson and his Norseman made their settlement in Newfoundland over 300 years before Olof's stone was said to be written on in 1362.
On top of that, experts said that in the 1360s, it would have been nearly impossible for the Vikings to make it from Newfoundland, all the way to Minnesota. The Saint Lawrence Seaway wasn't connected to the Great Lakes at the time, meaning the Viking ships wouldn't have been able to navigate their way through all the waterfalls, rapids and impassible sections, before making it to Lake Superior.
Regardless of the stone's origin and whether or not it's a hoax, it remains one of the most interesting pieces of Minnesota history. These days, you can see Kensington Runestone in nearby Alexandria, Minnesota, at the Runestone Museum.
To learn more about the stone and its history, check out the video below from the Minnesota Historical Society via YouTube.
Story Sources: Minnesota Historical Society Website, Kensington Runestone Wiki Page, Runestone Museum Website
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