Leif Erikson discovers America // 999 AD // The Saga of Erik the Red

As requested in our poll a few days ago, here we have some more Icelandic saga for you!

Though not supposedly the first European to see America (that honour goes to Bjarni Herjólfsson), Leif Erikson is credited with being the first to make landfall on the American continent. As the saga tells it, Leif first sighted 'Vinland' (as it was later named after its supposed abundance of grapes) after being blown off course en route to spread Christianity to Greenland on behalf of Olaf Trigvasson. Located in modern day Newfoundland in Canada, a number of Viking age settlements have been dug up in that area - including a ship repair station - dated to a good five hundred years before the arrival of Columbus.

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Kevin MacLeod

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David Kelly

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