SOURCE5 A map of Leif Eriksson’s journey to Vinland
GREENLAND
ICELAND
NORWAY
IRELAND
ENGLAND
L’Anse aux Meadows
ATLANTIC OCEAN
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Route of Leif Eriksson
Source: Map drawn by Spatial Vision.
The settlement appears to have been inhabited by a significant group of around 85–90 people. There were once seven buildings in three different groups, generally consisting of a longhouse, a hall-type building and smaller houses. There was also an iron-smelting furnace and charcoal pit, suggesting that the Vikings used it for making nails and repairing their ships, as well as making weapons and other items. If the sagas can be believed, the settlement lasted for only around three years before it was abandoned and Leif Eriksson and his explorers returned to Greenland. 7.11 SkillBuilder activity USING HISTORICAL SOURCES The SOURCE6 and SOURCE7 extracts from two well-known Icelandic sagas are believed to have been written in the thirteenth century, centuries after the events that they recount. It is therefore assumed that they are based on a mixture of true events and storytelling. But they are quite different in significant sections of their accounts.
SOURCE6 Saga of Erik the Red
After this there was much talk about making ready to go to the land which Leif had discovered. Thorstein, Eirik’s son, was chief mover in this, a worthy man, wise and much liked. Eirik was also asked to go, and they believed that his luck and foresight would be of the highest use. He was [for a long time against it, but did not say nay], when his friends exhorted him to go. They made ready the ship which Thorbjorn had brought there, and there were twenty men who undertook to start in her. They had little property, but chiefly weapons and food. On the morning when Eirik left home he took a little box, which had in it gold and silver; he hid the money, and then went forth on his journey. He had proceeded, however, but a little way, when he fell from his horse, and broke his ribs and injured his shoulder, and cried out, ‘Aiai!’ At this accident he sent word to his wife that she should take away the money that he had hidden, declaring his misfortune to be a penalty paid on account of having hid the money. Afterwards they sailed away out of Eiriksfjordr with gladness, as their plan seemed to promise success.
TOPIC7 The Vikings 191
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