Knutson’s last stand: in search of an American Viking massacre

Unearthed from a Swedish American farmer’s field in 1898, the Kensington Rune Stone has long aroused the historical imagination of Minnesotans.

Myths of the Rune Stone (David M. Krueger)Unearthed from a Swedish American farmer’s field in 1898, the Kensington Rune Stone has long aroused the historical imagination of Minnesotans. The stone’s inscription tells the story of eight Swedes and 22 Norwegians who camped near two rocky islets. Part of the group departed to go fishing, and when they returned, they found “10 men red with blood and dead.” The location of the tragedy was identified as “one day’s journey” from where the memorial was chiseled. The accompanying date is 1362. Were the inscription to be authentic, American history books would have to be rewritten.

Keep reading.

Published in: Norwegian American Weekly
By: David Krueger