Newfoundland, Canada – Researchers have discovered a new site in Canada that could provide relevant information about Vikings, a group of Germanic Norse seafarers that traveled thousands of years ago from Greenland to the New World, looking for wood and plunder. New findings were possible due to the analysis of satellite images.
The potentially Viking region is located on the southwest coast of Newfoundland in Canada, 300 miles south of L’Anse Aux Meadows, which is currently recognized as the only Viking settlement in North America, explains the New York Times.
Since the latter was discovered in 1960, archeologists have been constantly searching for new clues that demonstrate the presence of Vikings in the region. Last year, Space Archaeologist Sarah H. Parcak discovered a mysterious “dark stain” showing signs of iron and the possible existence of a Viking settlement.
“This new site could unravel more secrets about the Vikings, whether they were the first Europeans to ‘occupy’ briefly in North America, and reveal that the Vikings dared to explore much further into the New World than we ever thought,” she said to BBC News.
It appears that the new Canadian site shows clear signs of man-made structures similar to Viking longhouses. Parcak said to the BBC that she is thrilled about this new discovery because it could add a new character to North American history.
There is no evidence to demonstrate that traces of iron found by the team of researchers belonged to other European colonists or indigenous people in the area. First registers of Vikings date to the 8th century, when they moved from Scandinavian regions to cities in Europe and North America, and created new trade routes.
Parcak explained to the Washington Post that Newfoundland could effectively show us an entirely new culture that looks like the Norse, or could effectively be the “westernmost Norse site that’s ever been discovered.”
Demonstrating that Newfoundland hides settlements of Vikings can take several years since the region must be excavated by hand. Previously, the satellite mapping method used by Parcak has lead to the discovery of 17 pyramids, more than a thousand tombs and three thousand settlements in Egypt.
This new fascinating region will be unveiled online on Monday, April 4 and on Wednesday, April 6 in a two-hour program called Vikings Unearthed, which will have the participation of Sarah H. Parcak.
Source: Washington Post