The great Viking discoveries: From Greenland to America!

After sailing in the troubled waters of the sea of Norway and discovering Iceland, let us resume our Viking crossing. Let’s go together in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, to discover Greenland and America, well before Christopher Columbus.

Explorers, architects, browsers. Sages, legend tellers, nature lovers. With these readings revealing the great Vikings discoveries, we hope that the words that go before your eyes awaken in you a new feeling about this legendary people.

If we have only one opportunity to make a “good first impression”, the Vikings unfortunately did not have this chance. The colonized peoples, often Christians, have taken precedence over a barbaric and brutal image of these explorers. Thus, through our research and the lines that please you, we try to re-discover the past so as to give the Vikings an illusory possibility: that of a second first time.

In the journey that awaits us today, we will essentially follow the History of a Viking family, that of Erik the Red, which will plunge us to the discovery of Greenland and then of the American continent. A story mixing land of exile and meeting with bitter Indians, on the background of legendary myths.

1. Greenland, a land of exile

To start our story, it is in the middle of the 10th century that we need to go back. The Vikings, which have already settled heavily in Iceland, are still largely present in the heart of Scandinavian countries, especially in Norway. It is from this country that our journey begins.

The Exile of Erik the Red

We are around 950 when Eirikr Thorvaldson For the first time sees the sunrise and the moon, on the Norwegian lands. But the latter stays only a few years on his native land, since around 970 his father, Thorvald Get banished from Norway for murder.

So, the latter embarks with his family to join the Icelandic Vikings colonies. But the one that is already surnamed Erik the red – due to the red colour of his hair – follows the traces of his father... And is in turn banished from Iceland for murder.

Not able to return to Norway, and especially ambitious to discover new lands, Erik would then like to take advantage of this exile to sail towards new horizons. Then he embarked with his family: his wife, his three sons (Leif, Thorvald and Thorsteinn), and his daughter Freydis. Faithful to the Viking destiny, the exile decides to take the sea to the west, in search of the legendary "Runnbjorn rocks".

We are then in 983 when Erik the red for the first time sees the long awaited rocks, and decides to settle with his family near the current village of Qaqortoq, located south of the country. Thus, he became the first colonizer of a new land, which he himself would baptize. Greenland , a name that he does not randomly choose.

After three years spent exploring the eastern coasts of the country, the period of Erik’s exile the red touches at its end, and the Viking has only one idea in mind: return to Iceland to convince a part of his people to follow it to these new lands... His new land! It is therefore in this view that it appoints the country Greenland , “green earth”, hoping that this name will attract the curiosity of other Vikings.

Greenland colonization

Three years have thus elapsed since Erik’s arrival the red on the Greenland lands, and his exile period is finally reaching its end. Thus, the Norwegian of birth took over the sea in 986, to the east this time, to return to Iceland. He barely landed, he soon stopped his adventures and exposed his findings, a new land that would be promised to his congeners. Always thirsty for beautiful stories, the other Vikings delight themselves from the adventures of the exile.

Rapidly, many families gather and decide to follow Eirikr in these new expeditions, faithful to the exploratory spirit of the pagan people. This is how no less than 25 boats embark towards Greenland. But the journey to the promised land turns out to be more difficult than expected, and only about 15 boats finally arrive to destination...

If the first camp of the exile was established at the southern tip of Greenland, it was a little more in the west than the colony settled. A camp that remains today only abandoned lands, without any traces of Vikings, close to the current city of Nuuk .

Two camps are therefore distinct: Eystribyggd (at Qaqortoq) and Vestribyggd (in Nuuk), the establishment of the East and the establishment of the West. And if they were only 400 at the beginning, the Vikings never stopped landing until more than 2,500 members. The organization of the new company is simple: to apply the Icelandic system.

As with their habits, Viking settlers practice farming and hunting, and are enriched by trade. The latter resides in the export of multiple foodstuffs such as skin, ivory and bit oil or white bear fur with Norway. But living conditions remain difficult in Greenland, especially because of the cold, and their resources are precarious.

Viking sites in Greenland: In the footsteps of Erik the red

It was for more than 500 years that the Vikings remained established in Greenland before mysteriously disappearing the territory. The small glacial age, clashes with the Inuit population, exhaustion of resources... Many are the reasons for explaining Greenland's Viking disappearance.

In any event, during this half-millennial, the Vikings marked the history of the country and its landscapes. Still today, many Viking sites you can take the time to visit on the "Green Earth" . You can also follow the traces of Erik the red from his arrival in Greenland, until the colonization he initiated.

The ruins of Hvalsey

It is in Qaqortoq, the place of installation of Erik the red and his family upon their arrival in Greenland, that you will find this first wonder: the ruins of the Church of Havlsey. The building dates back to the age of the first Viking colony. Extended on about 16 meters long and 8 wide, the stones that make up these ruins weigh up to several tons.

This church, recognized for having been the place of many important marriages of the time, also hides darker, more mysterious stories... Indeed, under the ruins of Hvalsey there are many tombs. Yet, the place was never indicated as a possible sanctuary or cemetery...

The village of Qassiarsuk

Not far from Qaqortoq, this time you can enjoy a real reconstruction of a Viking village. In fact, Qassiarsuk – the current Greenland village – developed on the original location of the first colony. Located in the middle of the Tunulliarfik – Erik Fjord – the village houses many treasures!

First of all, you can go to Brattahlid, the old property of Erik the red, and visit the ruins of about fifteen houses. Then, the chapel of Sainte-Thjodhild was reconstituted to perfection so that you can truly imbue yourself with the Viking universe.

Finally, raise your eyes and admire the landscape offered by this sublime fjord... Let the mighty, almost wild atmosphere come up in you, which still emerges from this place full of stories from another time.

Narsaq

Once again, it is in the southwest of the island, not far from the Erik camps the red we find ourselves. Here we are in Narsaq, a place where the discoveries were as important as improbable.

Indeed, it is by wanting to build a vegetable garden that a gardener discovered the first Vikings artifacts, around 1960. As a result, many archaeologists rushed to invest the place, and the discoveries were great: a long house, a church and a farm.

The house is also considered the first Scandinavian construction on Greenland lands, and would therefore be... The first house of Erik the red, before he chooses to settle permanently in Brattahlid.

Today, Narsaq is a pretty village in the South-West of Greenland, known for its fjord and its sublime colorful houses.

2. America, a family story

Christophe Colomb, Italian explorer, discovered America in 1492. Here is a fact that we all learned at school... Yet it is totally wrong. If we still can’t say today that was the first to discover the New Continental, it is proven that the Vikings have trampled the American soil... About 500 years before Christopher Columbus, then Jacques Cartier !

Leif and Thorvald Erikson, son of Erik the Red, have even been there many times before the Nordic population is driven by the natives...

Leif Érikson's trip

What is paradoxical with the discovery of America by the Vikings is that it starts before it even started... In fact, Bjarni Herjólfsson first saw the American lands, in 986.

With discoveries and great explorations as his father was, Leif Erikson can no longer stand. In the year 1000, after hearing the stories of Bjarni, he bought his boat, prepared a crew and embarked towards these new lands. Her father, Erik the Red, tries to accompany her in this new exploration, but gets hurt in an accident that ultimately prevents her from taking the sea.

Leif, accompanied by 35 other Vikings, embarks to the west, following the indications provided by Bjarni Herjólfsson. After only a few days of navigation, it is on the edge of the current island Baffin that browsers arrive. An ice-cream, unwelcome and pebble-like land, which will be named after it Helluland , land of flat land. To date, this remains the first time Europeans set foot on the American continent.

Unsatisfied by the discovery of these lands, Leif and his companions do not linger and walk along the coasts to the south. It is once again after a few days of navigation that the Vikings discover a new country, totally different from the first. Green, oaky and roasted with a better climate, the northern men land on the shores of the present Labrador region that they will appoint Markland .

But by noting that the weather was getting softer over the course of their journey, Leif makes the decision to continue sailing for a few days to the south. The boat sails in the heart of a strait, and leads its navigators straight to a large lake. A mild climate, fresh water and rich in fish, and a breathtaking landscape, it is decided: here the Vikings establish their camp.

“Here” is the Vinland , wine land. This name was once again given to him by Erik the red and his companions, after the latter discovered that the lands on which they were settled were full of vines and grapes.

Thus, the first European colony in the Americas was born. The Vikings set up the time of a winter, build a few huts and a large house for their leader Leif. Later, visitors will name the place “Leifsbudir”, “Les maisons de Leif”.

After a winter spent in the heart of this new country, Leif decides that it is time to return to the sea. To return to Greenland, the Vikings embark with them a large amount of wood, which is cruelly lacking on their lands. It is a hero that they return to Greenland, with new stories perpetuating the traditions of Viking explorers, and making the pride of their people.

The trip of Thorvald Ériksson

If Leif’s desire to explore does not stop on his return to Greenland, he will never leave on the land of his discoveries. In fact, his father Erik had died, and now he had to reign over the territory of Greenland.

But his brother, Thorvald, cannot imagine a second the possibility of not returning to explore the New continent. According to some writings, Thorvald would actually be jealous of his brother and would also like to build a place bearing his name, in order to leave "his trace". In turn, he led an expedition to the Americas, accompanied by some thirty men. It is also easily that he joins Leifsbudir and like his brother, there is a whole winter.

Once the harshness of winter is faded, the time has come for the Vikings to explore the eastern and northern coasts. This is how the men of the north end up falling nose to nose with Skrælingar Amerindians. The latter, after being attacked by the Vikings, replied. It is at the court of this battle, during an arrow exchange, that Thorvald dies.

Further expeditions will be carried out in the Americas, including through Thorfinn Karlsefni . This will also be the origin of several trades between Europeans and Amer-indiens, the first of history. In addition, his son, named Snorri, will be the first European to see the day on the American continent.

Viking sites in the Americas: Explore the past

If the Viking passages on the American continent were brief, there are two archaeological sites today proving that the Northern men have settled there. Two sites that you can also visit, and whose historical power is also destabilizing and subjugating.

The first, the Anse aux Meadows , was discovered in 1960 by Norwegian explorer Helge Instad and his wife, archaeologist Anne Stine Ingstad. The second is located on the peninsula Point Rosée , and was updated in 2016 by Sarah Parkak. These two sites are located at Canada near the sublime Newfoundland region.

L’Anse aux Meadows

If there is a place combining History and Geography, it is the Anse aux Meadows. Perfectly located at the tip of the peninsula of Newfoundland, the place is magical. We immediately understand why the Vikings settled here. The site has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1978.

Yet, you have the opportunity to go back to history by visiting these places. You can even enjoy a guided tour, offering an interactive introduction to the discoveries and archaeological excavations that are being carried out there. Thanks to this, you will have under the eyes the main Viking artifacts updated during archaeological excavations.

In the evening, a grandiose show is available to you. Around the fire, you will be told the great stories and stories of Vikings, making you travel in time. You become Viking among the Vikings, as when they gathered for great festivities, and sharing their most beautiful legends.

Point Rosée

Unlike the site of Anse aux Meadows, here everything is only supposition. Indeed, no concrete evidence that the Vikings were passing through the region was provided... And yet, everything has to believe.

Found in 2015 and searched in 2016, the place unveiled many clues about a possible Vikings colonization. Several kilos of metal, similar to that used by the Payn people and dated a millennium, were found by searching the ground.

But Pointe Rosée is above all a great place, which everyone has to visit when he goes to Newfoundland, Canada. A place out of time, at sunsets you can't forget.

Sit by a rock, facing the sea, and breathe. Inspire deeply, and let your mind go at the rhythm of these Viking legends.

Imagine this people, so much in advance of their time, sailing fearlessly in unknown waters. Understand this feeling when, after several days lost at sea in search of a land that could never happen, they finally ended up by accoster.

Be the first to crowd a ground that no one had ever heard of. Explore unknown lands, discover smells, colors. Feel a personal accomplishment, but so shared.

The fulfillment of having perpetuated the traditions of his people, which one day will become a legend. The Viking legend.