L’Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland
Overcast, Hi 60
Sunrise 5:14, Sunset 10:06
If you ask the passengers on this cruise why the chose this itinerary and this week most of them will tell you that it’s because of the eclipse. There’s a solar eclipse with totality over Iceland on August 12 and we’ll be there.
If you ask me, I’ll tell you it’s because this date fits in our schedule and it includes a stop at L’Anse aux Meadows – the site of the oldest known European settlement in the Americas – predating Columbus by almost 500 years.
So I was really excited to see some grass covered mounds and other dead stuff this morning.
We took a lot of pictures. Don’t feel you need to see them all. But as much as you can stand, enjoy my excitement and wonder at the history and the legacy of this place.
Also being a small place there was only one excursion – a self guided tour of two sites with shuttle buses (school busses) between.
The first stop was the archaeological site visitor’s center.
Of course there’s the obligatory photo op. 
This is a view of the meadow. Note the stream running thru it. 
Cheryl said, “Go stand next to those trees so we can see how tall they are.” Most of the vegetation is short and arctic in form. 
The landward side of the meadow is protected by this cliff face/outcropping.
We didn’t spend much time at the visitor’s center. After a comfort stop we shopped for our 2026 Christmas ornament.
Then we squirreled our find away and headed down the boardwalk to the Achaelogical site.
Note the creek running thru the meadow. This fresh water source was critical to the selection of this site. 
Pano view of the main site. 
Leader’s hall, largest on the site. Larger than Eirik the Red’s home in Greenland and equivalent in size to a chieftain’s hall in Iceland. 
Hut, probably for slaves. 
Large Hall for someone of high social status, One room, littered with slag, was probably a workshop 
Small hall Probably for crew, with attached workspace 
Workshop, might also serve as hut for low status crew
Toward the end of the site they had reconstructed several structures.
Leader’s Hall (also note the woven fence) 
Four doors, paired for cross ventalation 
Door latch 
Private room shared by Captain and Navigator (and their wives) 
Complete with chamber pot 
Bed for leader and his wife (also a similar bed for the navigator and wife) 
Carving on door to the Captain’s Bed 
Central room for working, eating, meeting 
Foot powered tension lathe 
Weaving frame 
Central heating with cooking pots 
Bunk 
In the ‘back yard’ was a wagon 
The hall backed on to the beach
There were other reconstructions on the site.
Following time at the site, we were bussed over to a ‘living village’ for more immersion.
Met some friendly Vikings along the way. 
Sheep pen 
Boat building workshop 
Boat building workshop 
Boat builder describing this vessle 
Clinker-built constrction 
Stern 
Bow wth square hole for the mast 
Smaller craft – similar construction. 
Runestone 
Church next to blacksmith shop 
Interior of the church 
Blacksmith answering questions. Slave at the back manning two bellows. 
Blacksmith at work
At this point we split.
Cheryl wanted to continue viewing the reenactments.
Moose bone needle. Made by hand from shooting the moose to drilling the eyehole 
String bag of sheep’s wool ready for spinning 
Natural materials for dying yarn 
Stand-up weaving frame 
Mud Brick oven 
Hole in top of the oven serves as a stove-top 
Period games 
Chicken Coop 
Translating the Rune alphabet 
Carving of sea monsters fighting. 
And ax throwing
Cheryl also got some instruction on using a drop spindle.
Eventually we met up at the dock and had our picture taken with a couple of local characters.
Then it was back to the ship for lunch and an afternoon of lectures.
Our Resident Historian reviewed the spread of various Scandinavian peoples and made the case that the commonly held belief that “the Viking Age” ended in 1066 doesn’t acknowledge the continuation of the spread of ‘viking culture’ far beyond that date.
Next was our Rocket Scientist talking about lights in the sky.
Fascinating subject with lots of highly technical explanations that he only covered very lightly but still it was a great talk.
After dinner it was an overview of the geography, history, and cultures of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Then it was time to do laundry.
Fortunately Viking has a laundry room on every floor with washers, driers, and detergent provided.
Two loads later and we’re fresh as daisies.
So that’s L’Anse aux Meadows. It was a good day. I’m satisfied.
Tomorrow’s a sea day filled with lectures and such.
And since we’re leaving this crazy place that doesn’t believe in keeping time with the rest of the world – we move our clocks ahead 1 1/2 hours tonight. Which puts me right now somewhere after midnight so I’ll close this off and head for bed. See you tomorrow.
Till then,
R
I love that we get to share your excitement and wonder!