Oct
Leif Landed First
Christopher Columbus is reputed to have discovered America. Not only was he about 500 years late, but he did not land on the continent. Columbus’ first landing was on the Island of Hispaniola, which is now shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
The oldest European settlement discovered in North America is at L’Anse aux Meadows on the northern tip of Newfoundland in what is now Canada. The settlement had at least eight buildings, three of which were a smithy, a carpentry workshop and a boat workshop. The settlers were Norsemen who arrived there around 1,000 CE.
According to the Vinland Sagas, a man named Bjarni Herjolfsson made a trip to Greenland ,but was blown off course by bad weather. He ended up finding wooded areas to the west. When he finally reached Greenland, his story inspired Leif Erikson. Leif headed west with a crew of men and discovered a land he called Vinland. This was North America. L’Anse aux Meadows is proof that Norsemen discovered America. There is no proof that it was Leif Erikson’s settlement. However, it serves to verify the Saga’s claims of Norse exploration and discovery.
On this Columbus Day weekend, it is good for us to remember that Leif landed first. Personally, I find great comfort in that thought. Columbus was a latecomer.
Leif landed first!
