Viking MASS part one...It is claimed by many people that there was viking exploration and even settlement of Massachusetts seven or eight hundred years ago, long before any other European’s arrived. Did this happen? How valid are the claims? Is it possible? Where is the evidence?
First Who were the vikings? These are various medieval people originating out of Sweden, Norway and Denmark who became notable for raiding coastal settlements in Europe in the ninth century from Russia to the British Isles. They often raided monasteries that were undefended for the gold. The image conjured in many people’s minds of vikings is the raiding and piracy, but what is more interesting for this discussion are the expansions, settlements and take over of various European territories by vikings. It surprises people to find out that Dublin Ireland was a viking settlement, and that parts of England and France were viking-sized. This helps answer the question as to why Vikings might have pushed deep into north america. This story is not about raiders and pirates, it’s about the need for new territories to move people into. Some of the motivation was about inheritance or rivalries between siblings that led them to want to find unexplored territories, especially places where they wouldn’t have invade with an army.
We begin our story by visiting the statue of Leif Erikson on Commonwealth Avenue in Boston near Kenmore Square. This is one of many monuments in the area dedicated to Viking exploration. Some are at locations claimed to be actual landing sites or possible settlements. We will attempt to visit and evaluate many of these in parts 2 and 3.
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