Did The Vikings Bring Back A Native American Woman To Iceland 1000 A.D.? (Mexican, interior)

[Six Foot Three]

I was just reading this article in Time Magazine about how icelandic and spanish scientists believe that they have genetic evidence showing that the vikings did indeed intermingle with the native americans in the North American continent (the sagas stated they never did) as they've discovered the rare genetic sequence in about 350 icelanders that is traceable back to around 1000 A.D. which would possibly indicate that the viking explorers did bring back to iceland an native american woman well before the amerindians ventured over on their own.

My main take from the article is that the scientists seem to be excited that if this is correct then this would prove that the vikings probably settled on the continent for a time being. I guess i'm a bit confused as i thought that they settled L'Anse Aux Meadows for a bit although i assume they didn't intermingle while there according to the sagas?

Article and more info for those interested.
Study: Vikings May Have Taken a Native American to Iceland - TIME

[John Walmsley]

6 Foot 3,

The article raises some interesting questions. I noticed in the comments below the Times article someone had the same question that occurred to me: Perhaps the gene was already with the Vikings from prior contact with the Sami or Laplander people, whose genes would presumably be similar to those of the Inuit and American Indians. There is some indication that there was hostility between the Inuit and the Vikings, so it would seem that fraternization between those two peoples was remote. More likely it would have been with the American Indians. It's one of those intriguing stories like the occurrence of a rare medical condition, which revealed the surprising news that some people in a small western community carried a Jewish gene. We are probably much more homogeneous than we ever thought.

[Irishtom29]

No surprise, none at all. The Northmen would screw a knot in a tree and carry off damned near any women they could catch; I don't see why Indian women would be different to them then any others.

[nightbird47]

Originally Posted by 6 Foot 3

I was just reading this article in Time Magazine about how icelandic and spanish scientists believe that they have genetic evidence showing that the vikings did indeed intermingle with the native americans in the North American continent (the sagas stated they never did) as they've discovered the rare genetic sequence in about 350 icelanders that is traceable back to around 1000 A.D. which would possibly indicate that the viking explorers did bring back to iceland an native american woman well before the amerindians ventured over on their own.

My main take from the article is that the scientists seem to be excited that if this is correct then this would prove that the vikings probably settled on the continent for a time being. I guess i'm a bit confused as i thought that they settled L'Anse Aux Meadows for a bit although i assume they didn't intermingle while there according to the sagas?

Article and more info for those interested.
Study: Vikings May Have Taken a Native American to Iceland - TIME

Near the Oklahoma/Arkansas border is a Viking rune. It is extraordinary to see, following the pathway downward in a now dry river channel. There were several other smaller runes on the hills facing its location as well.

The interesting thing is that when translated, the symbols say that "x lived here" (do not remember the name and can't find the sheet on it). The smaller ones were protective charms and further property markers. Mind you this is deep into dry land but the river was navicable and they sailed there. I believe its been dated to about 800 to 1200 based on the type of characters used.

So at least one Viking came and hunkered down and probably for a generation or two.

[curiousg]

It seems plausible to me. Everybody thinks Columbus "discovered" America but there's lots of evidence that even if this continent was not already populated by people, Columbus was not the first from the Euro-African continents to come here. And yes, same evidence points out Africans had been on these shores before the slave trade.

[John Walmsley]

Originally Posted by nightbird47

Near the Oklahoma/Arkansas border is a Viking rune. It is extraordinary to see, following the pathway downward in a now dry river channel. There were several other smaller runes on the hills facing its location as well.

The interesting thing is that when translated, the symbols say that "x lived here" (do not remember the name and can't find the sheet on it). The smaller ones were protective charms and further property markers. Mind you this is deep into dry land but the river was navicable and they sailed there. I believe its been dated to about 800 to 1200 based on the type of characters used.

So at least one Viking came and hunkered down and probably for a generation or two.

There is another "Viking" rune found in Minnesota called the Kensington Rune that has generated a lot of controversy. Some say it's authentic and others consider it a hoax. It's understandable that believability in such runes would diminish in proportion to their distance from the Atlantic Ocean. It's difficult to picture the Vikings trekking into the vast interior of the continent. Even the heavily armed Spanish conquistadors had considerable problem. Controversy will always abound, but It would be satisfying if the mystery of the runes could be settled.

On the subject of social contact with Native Americans, explorer William Clark's slave named York was such a curiosity that he was often mobbed by the Inidans who wanted to "caress" his dark skin. York was a superb physical specimen and the Indian ladies were highly attracted to him. His services were in demand, especially among the Mandan Indians, where Lewis and Clark spent considerable time. The following paragraph by Herman J. Viola, who wrote the Afterword to National Geographic's Journal of Lewis and Clark's Journal is of interest:

"Of York, the slave, little information exists other than he was a strong swimmer, a superior hunter, and a marvel to the Indians, who came from miles around to see "Great Medicine," as they called him, and to rub his skin to see if the black color would rub away. Many of the Indian women met along the way shared their beds with him in hopes of acquiring some of his spiritual power for themselves and their people."

[Irishtom29]

Originally Posted by John Walmsley

. Many of the Indian women met along the way shared their beds with him in hopes of acquiring some of his spiritual power for themselves and their people."

Reminds me of a story about Pedro Alvarado, one of Cortes's captains and a magnificent looking men of great courage and vicious and violent temperment. I read some Mexican women wanted to mate with him because they thought him a god; to their thinking only a god could be so beautiful and so cruel.

[Shiloh1]

From the article:

"According to the sagas, the Vikings had troubles with the locals and couldn't settle there, so they returned to Iceland,"

It seems the Natives were anti-immigration.

[lifelongMOgal]

Originally Posted by nightbird47

Near the Oklahoma/Arkansas border is a Viking rune. It is extraordinary to see, following the pathway downward in a now dry river channel. There were several other smaller runes on the hills facing its location as well.

The interesting thing is that when translated, the symbols say that "x lived here" (do not remember the name and can't find the sheet on it). The smaller ones were protective charms and further property markers. Mind you this is deep into dry land but the river was navicable and they sailed there. I believe its been dated to about 800 to 1200 based on the type of characters used.

So at least one Viking came and hunkered down and probably for a generation or two.

Do you have a link? Is it in a state or national park? That would be interesting to see!

Weren't there similar dwelling sites found in the upper midwest from about that time period? I seem to recall something from a program on the History Channel having to do with the crusades, the flight patterns of the tribes of Israel, and the evidence of the Viking travels on North America .

[nightbird47]

Originally Posted by lifelongMOgal

Do you have a link? Is it in a state or national park? That would be interesting to see!

Weren't there similar dwelling sites found in the upper midwest from about that time period? I seem to recall something from a program on the History Channel having to do with the crusades, the flight patterns of the tribes of Israel, and the evidence of the Viking travels on North America .

Vikings in Oklahoma: Norsemen and the Heavner Runestone

This is a pretty good description of the place. Its incredable to walk through the pathway too, with a vibriant energy there. It appears a viking named Glome marked his property with the stones. Due to them being hidden in deep foliage I assume they weren't carried away by treasuer hunters. Its quite interesting to stand on the hill and look down where you can see the river as it winds its way towards the area as they paddled up the river to get there. The rune itself is in a plastic room which you come to along the pathway.

We went to see the Spiro Mounds afterwards, and took an unplanned trip in and out of Arkansas missing a turn. It too is awesome. The people that build those lived in a densely packed city and dissapeared before there is any record of their name. But you can walk among their mounds and stand in the center of the ceremonial mound and feel the energy which remains. It makes a nice trip to hit both in a day. There is a link about them further down on the page. Its actually a registered archeological dig site.