The Vikings and America (Ancient Peoples & Places) - Hardcover

Wahlgren, Erik

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0500021090 ISBN 13: 9780500021095

Publisher: Thames & Hudson, 1986

Synopsis

Excavations at L'Anse aux Meadows in northern Newfoundland have revealed the presence of the Vikings around AD 1000. But was this the mysterious Vinland ("land of grapevines") which, according to the Icelandic sagas, Leif Eriksson discovered almost one thousand years ago? In his account Wahlgren argues for a location farther south and also suggests Viking exploration far to the North. He also answers the question: "Why did the Vikings eventually leave the New World?" with his theory that a worsening climate and attacks by native Eskimos and Indians put paid to the first European presence in North America.

About this title

About the Author:

The late Erik Wahlgren was Professor of Scandinavian and Germanic Languages at the University of California, Los Angeles. He was best known for his influential book The Kensington Stone, a Mystery Solved.

Review:

A detective story in which Wahlgren sorts through the clues found in ancient manuscripts and meshes them with modern archaeological discoveries. -- Seattle Post-Intelligencer

A rare insight into the facts of a contentious issue. -- Choice

About this edition

• Publisher: Thames & Hudson
• Publication date: 1986
• ISBN 10: 0500021090
• ISBN 13: 9780500021095
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 192