The Vikings in America (part 2).

Chart of the Viking expansion. By Max Naylor. Derivative work from Rowanwindwhistler

The human hive story would happen again. That migratory wave, with its epicentre in Norway, kept spreading through other regions. Among them, was the volcanic and cold Iceland. As a result, in the first half of the 10th century, the useable lands began to be not enough to sustain the whole settlement. As time passed, the crisis worsened. In order to get away from the phantom of famine and overcrowding, the people had to look up to the western seas. 

The summer in the coast of Greenland, ca. year 1000. Oil painting by Carl Rasmussen (1841-1893).
Photo: Bruun Rasmussen, 2011.

As we mentioned, by the year 920, the huge island which would later receive the name of Greenland, was seen for the first time. Nonetheless, since that discovery, had to pass more than fifty years, till the Vikings dared to venture there again. According to the Norse Sagas, Snaebjorn Galti was the first to attempt it, in 978. He intended to explore and to establish a colony at the island. Unfortunately, his men killed him during the trip. The project died with him...

Erik the Red. Woodcut after an Iceland publication of 1688.
Greenland, by Arngrimurg Jónsson. Source: http://rmc.library.cornell.edu

On those days, in Iceland was a personage, whose name was Erik Thorvalsson. Best known as Erik the Red, maybe for the color of his hair... but it could well be due to his bloody history. For his crimes, he had a three years exile pain. Without a place where he was not taken as a convict, decided to go to the elusive Greenland. Then, Erik surely had not the slightest idea, that he was writing his name, as one of the best known explorers in history. With the strong determination of those who have nothing to lose, he and his crew, traveled across 500 miles of angry seas. He confirmed that everything about the lonely island was true. Full of excitement, they sailed to the south, along the coast, till they got to its meridional end (Cape Farewell). 

Extreme points of Greenland. Showing Cape Farewell, to the South.
Source: Greenland_stub.svg. 2009

There, he turned upwards the western coast. Some beautiful green hills surprised him, and then discovered impressive fjords; somehow it looked like Norway. Little coves hid good places to establish a farm or a little village. All the place appeared to be deserted; indeed it was an advantage by that time. Despite the lack of large cultivable areas, the abundant wildlife would provide enough food for many people. Erik stayed there for three years, while his sentence finished, according to the Saga. 

Narsaq, Greenland. There, have been found remains of a Viking settlement. Photo: Melissa Cherry Villumsen, 2018.
Lic. CC Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International

With the aim of drafting volunteers to found a colony on those territories, he came back to Iceland, in 985. Was an easy task to convince people who were having hard times. At that moment, the mere idea of an island full of green, as its name suggested, should have resulted very attractive. It seems likely that Erik has lied or exaggerated about the virtues of Greenland, to catch more people for his project. So, a year later, he gathered a twenty five ship fleet. On board, was a hopeful crowd, carrying their belongings and livestock. But not all them were destined to complete the journey...

In no way, those cold waters meant an easy navigation. After all, only fourteen of the vessels could arrive safe and sound. A group of four hundred and fifty settlers, was the first nucleus of the Viking Colonization of Greenland. The scarce productivity of the land, had to be compensated by the livestock raising, the abundance of the sea life, and hunting. At the time of its apogee, the island reached a ten thousand inhabitants population. But, as time passed, the colonies decayed, until they were finally abandoned in the 15th century. 

Ruins of a church at Hvalsey, Greenland. By Frederik C. Peter Ruttel.

Once they were established in Greenland, chance would make its next movement. With their onward pass to the west, the Vikings were knocking at the doors of an unknown world. One thing was sure: they were so close to the coast of North America... that it would only take another “sailing error”, to become the first european to set their prints on that continent. And so it was! But, what could have happened next, to finally leave all that, buried into oblivion?

By then, there was an active trading between Iceland and Norway. Specially during the summer, intrepid sea men took advantage of a relative good weather, to carry their goods. One of them, by the name of Bjarni Herjolfsson, used to stay with his father, at Iceland, for the winter. What a big surprise, when he found out that his old man had gone to Greenland, with the group of Erik the Red. Without hesitation, he decided to sail after them, knowing that they would get into unexplored seas. 

Detail of an old  world chart, showing the relative position of Vinland with Greenland, Iceland and Scandinavia.
(Supposedly is a copy from the 15th Century, from an original of  the 13th Century. But now is considered a fake)
Source: Yale University.

Recklessly, they set sail to Greenland, with a few vague references about the island and how to get there. Counting only on their instinct and rudimentary resources, would have been very difficult not to lose the way among the dense fog banks. When they at last beheld the land, Bjarni soon understood that it could not be the place they were searching for. In fact, they were the first European to be there. Fate guided them to a lonely level shore, surrounded by extensive woods. They continued sailing to the north and found an icy landscape, with glaciers and rocks. In front of that immense and monotonous panorama, he considered that was worthless to keep that course. With his fine sense of orientation, he chose to take to the east. Four days later, Greenland appeared before them...

Landscape from Ivittuut, Greenland. By Emanuel Petersen. Photo: bruun-rasmussen.dk {{PD-US}}

For many years, there was not any mention of another viking visit to those regions. However, on clear days, some hunter claimed they had gazed at blurred shapes, far, over the horizon. It only needed to appear someone bold, and curious enough, to set sail on that direction. And so it came the turn for Leif Eriksson, the son of Erik the Red. 

He was an imposing looking young man. Also had great virtues, according to the Saga. In the year of 1001, he decided to go in search of the hidden secrets of those far away mists. It seems possible that Eriksson already had some clues about the sailing and the things he expected to find. Since he had bought Bjarni’s boat, results logic to suppose that they could converse about it. Leif asked his father, to command the expedition... but, Erik was a superstitious man. One day, as he fell from his horse, took it as a bad signal, and decided to stay at Greenland. That way, his son began the adventure, leading a thirty five men crew. 

The route of Leif Eriksson. By Finn Bjoklid.
Lic. CC Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 Gen

Heading to the west, they confirmed that everything Bjarni had said, was real. They first found huge ice masses, that seemed to descend from the mountains to the rocky coast. Definitely that was a frozen desert, and they named it as Helluland (Land of the silver rocks). It was Baffin Island (now Canada’s domain). Then, they sailed southeast, getting to a plain coast, in front of dense woods, and called it, Markland (Labrador Peninsula, Canada). 

Leif Eriksson discovers North America. By Christian Krohg, 1893.
(Actually, the first to see those lands was Bjarni Herjolfsson).

Looking for the coastline, they tacked southwest. After two days, the land appeared again. It was an island, “where the morning dew had a sweet taste...” When they got to the mainland, decided to build a good shelter, knowing that the winter was coming. The Vikings found those places very pleasant. They were immersed into a splendid green country. The streams were plenty of big salmon. Due to the mild winter, they thought that it was a good spot to raise livestock. There were wild vines everywhere, so they gave the name of Vinland to the region. The following summer they turned back to Greenland, carrying many samples and also their tales. However, Leif Eriksson would never return to those new territories.

There are two main versions about this story, clearly different between them. At the present, the Greenlanders Saga is the most accepted, for it is the older. We have been based upon that version...

Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland, Canada. A Viking settlement was discovered there, in 1960.
Photo: Michel Rathwell, 2006. Lic. CC Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic

Another interesting issue, is about the exact location of the territory they called as Vinland. The description from the Saga, may give us some hints, though are not conclusive. 1) The total time of the journey. As logic indicates, they should have left from Greenland when the weather was favorable (by the end of spring). Then, started exploring from the north and when they got there, was the time to build a shelter for the winter. On the next summer, they went home. 2) Astronomical clues. The length of day and night is mentioned there. Also the position of the Sun, at winter solstice. But, according to this, Vinland could be located anywhere between Florida and Hudson Bay... the Great Lakes zone included! 3) The description of the land. In this story, is not depicted a great variety of  landscapes. 4) The return trip. When they traveled back to Greenland, there is no mention to a long journey. 

Besides, the story talks about a mild winter and how the vikings sailed up a river, till they found its source at a lake. This may suggest that they were on a latitude much further to the south, than they used to be. But, how far to the south could they have been? Some scholars have come to propose that in those times, the northern regions had a more temperate weather. And several centuries later, came a “Little Ice Age”, that finally made the Greenland colonies to be abandoned. 

View from the inside of a Viking shelter, at L'Anse Aux Newfoundland, Canada.
Photo: Pccoutu. Lic. Attributtion-Share Alike 3.0 Unported

The finding of a Viking settlement to the northeast of Newfoundland, might give another clue. But unfortunately, it is also not definitive. It is thought, that they could have visited those lands some other times, and it was not registered. So that could the vestige of any other incursion. The mention of an episode, when Leif Ericsson rescued some shipwrecked sailors, could be an evidence that other people ventured on that direction.  

Becomes evident that there is a lack of information... In the near future, new archaeological findings will surely appear. Very impressive news may bring down many things taken as true, at the present. For the time being, it looks appropriate to put the legendary Vinland, between the northeast of Newfoundland, in Canada, and Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA. 

Although Leif Ericsson never came back, it was not the end of the Vikings presence in America. His brothers would continue visiting those lands, turning that project, almost into a family business. This could be, one reason of the lack of news and the tendency to vanish into oblivion, of that important event. One thing is certain, it would have had a deep impact over the lethargy of the Middle Ages. History might be very different...