The Vikings “conquered” America 4.5 centuries before Columbus

The Scandinavians Viking had crossed the Atlantic and “conquered” it America at least from 1021 AD, that is, exactly 1,000 years ago and about 4.5 centuries earlier than Columbus discovered it, which is often believed to have been the first European to cross the Atlantic and reach the this continent.

This is the conclusion reached by a new scientific study, which is based on the dating of wooden objects found at an archaeological site in New Earth in eastern Canada.

This is the oldest date for which the European presence on American soil can now be scientifically confirmed, they claim.

It is known that the Vikings made long sea voyages with their emblematic ships. To the west they had arrived successively and had settled in Iceland, in Greenland and finally in America. These were the first Europeans to make the bold crossing of the Atlantic in the heart of the Middle Ages and settle in an area (L’Anse aux Meadows) on the northern peninsula of Newfoundland (Newfoundland).

The age of the camp has not been determined

So far, however, the exact age of this camp had not been identified.

Researchers from Canada, Germany and the Netherlands, led by Associate Professor Michael Dee of the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, who published the publication in the journal Nature, wooden artifacts which came from three different trees and were found inside it settlement of the Vikings.

Scientists say it was the work of Viking hands because the objects were cut and created using sharp metal tools, which were not used by Native Americans at the time, reports APE BPE.

The researchers were able to determine the exact time of creation of the settlement L’Anse aux Meadows by the Vikings, analyzing the distinct characteristics of atmospheric carbon in the wood, which allowed them to calculate when the trees were cut down, from where these wooden objects were made.

A sharp point was used as a reference point in time increase in atmospheric carbon caused by an event of cosmic rays that reached Earth in 993 AD. and have left the world imprint and in the trunk rings of trees.

It remains unknown how many missions the Vikings sent to America and what was the duration of each, in terms of navigating the Atlantic and staying ashore, according to the same sources.

The evidence so far suggests, however, that it was rather short trips, although most likely the Vikings did not hesitate to explore to some extent the American hinterland and areas south of the New Earth.

The adventures of the Vikings are recorded in Icelandic Epics, which, however, began as oral stories and were written centuries after the events they describe. Among other things, these epics mention contacts – sometimes friendly and sometimes violent – between the Vikings and the aborigines. So far, however, little archaeological evidence has been found to support such contacts.