The Kensington Rune Stone

Because of its popular appeal/notoriety, no study of Vikings or Scandinavians in North America is compete without some mention of the Kensington Rune-Stone which has been the center of controversy since its discovery in 1898. Further information is available on the The Kensington Rune Stone Home Page

Wahlgren's translation, published in 1958 reads as follows:

"8 Swedes and 22 Norwegians on an exploration journey from Vinland westward. We had our camp by 2 rocky islets one day's journey north of this stone. We were out fishing one day. When we came home we found 10 men red with blood and dead. AVM save us from evil. We have 10 men by the sea to look after out ships, 14 days journey from this island. Year 1362."

The stone was in the possession of Hjalmar Holand for some time and his publications defend its authenticity. Blegen (1968) argued persuasively that the Runes were a hoax while Hall (1982) took the opposite position.

My personal opinion is that Blegen was correct and that the Kensington Rune-Stone was a hoax. His arguement that the analysis of runologists has consistently rejected the authenticity of the runes is the most telling. Hall presents a strong arguement for authenticity, but he is not a specialist in runes and therefor does not have the same credentials in my mind. Blegen also shows that people with the capability to prepare the stone were present in the area in the 1890's.

There is no conclusive proof either way, so the arguement is likely to continue. The bibliography below should be complete enough to allow an interested reader to form their own opinion.

Bibliography

Blegen, Theodore Christian. The Kensington Rune-stone; New Light on an Old Riddle. St Paul: Minnesota Historical Society, 1968.

Flom, George Tobias. The Kensington Rune Stone: An Address. Springfield: Phillips Bros., 1910.

Hall, Robert Anderson. The Kensington Rune-stone is Genuine: Linguistic, Practical Methodological Considerations. Columbia: Hornbeam Press, 1982.

Hatch, Nancy L. Book Review of Robert A. Hall, The Kensington Rune-stone is Genuine in Minnesota Archaeologist, Vol 45, No. 2. Fall/Winter 1986.

Holand, Hjalmar R. The Kensington Rune Stone: The Oldest Native Document of American History . Ephriam, WS: [Private Printing?], 1919.

.... The Kensington Stone: A Study in Pre-Columbian American History. Ephriam, WS: Private Printing, 1932.

.... Norse Discoveries and Explorations in America, 982-1362. New York: Dover Publications, 1940.

.... Westward from Vinland: An Account of Norse Discoveries and Explorations in America, 982-1362 . New York: Duell, Sloan & Pearce, 1940.

.... A Pre-Columbian Crusade to America. New York: Twayne, 1962.

Landsverk, Ole Godfred. The Kensington Rune-stone: A Reappraisal of the Circumstances under which the Stone was Discovered. Glendale: Church Press, 1961.

Redmond, Jeffery R. Viking Hoaxes in North America. New York: Carlton Press, 1979.

Wahlgren, Erik. The Kensington Rune-stone: A Mystery Solved. Madison: University of Wisconson Press, 1958.

.... "The Runes of Kensington". Studies in Honor of Albert Morey Sturtevant. Westport: Greenwood Press, 1970.

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