L'Anse aux Meadows

L'Anse aux Meadows

Canada · Newfoundland and Labrador

SettlementUnknownUNESCO · 1978
Approximate period990 CE — 1,050 CEViking Age; 11th century See on the map ↓

In brief

L'Anse aux Meadows is a Norse settlement uncovered through excavations in Newfoundland. Its building remains show similarities to Norse architecture in Greenland and Iceland.

What was found?

  • 1Timber-framed turf buildings

    The remains of eight Norse buildings constructed with turf blocks over timber supports were found. Their construction methods correspond to examples in Iceland and Greenland.

  • 2Bronze cloak pin

    This ring-headed pin was found in a cooking pit in a dwelling. Being of a type used by the Norse to fasten their cloaks, it helped establish the settlement's identity.

  • 3Iron slag and ship rivets

    Slag left from iron extraction and working, along with iron ship nails or rivets, was found. These document metalworking at the site.

  • 4Spindle whorl

    A small weight that keeps a hand spindle rotating. It provides concrete evidence of yarn production at the settlement.

  • 5Stone oil lamp

    A stone lighting device found in one of the buildings. It shares features with everyday objects from similar Norse settlements.

What does it point to?

The buildings and everyday objects show that Norse life in the North Atlantic was brought to Newfoundland. Metalworking and textile tools indicate that activities here included production and maintenance alongside shelter.

What did it teach us?

  1. Archaeologically confirmed that the Norse were present in North America centuries before Columbus's voyage.
  2. Radiocarbon and tree-ring research securely dated the Norse presence to AD 1021.
  3. Documented iron production and working at the settlement through concrete remains.

Images

2022-08-27 05 View of L'Anse aux Meadows, NFL CAN
Gordon Leggett · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Latest news / selected archive

A tree-ring and radiocarbon study published in 2021 established 1021 as the exact calendar year of Norse presence at the settlement.

Record

Culture
Scandinavian (Norse)
Coordinates
51.5953°, -55.5331°

Sources

  1. whc.unesco.org
  2. nature.com
  3. nature.com
  4. Parks Canada — L’Anse aux Meadows kültürü ve tarihi
  5. Groningen Üniversitesi / Nature — MS 1021’de Avrupa kökenli insanların varlığı

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12.000

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