New horizons at L’Anse aux Meadows

A new cultural horizon, distinct from the known Norse ruins at L'Anse aux Meadows (LAM), suggests that European presence in North America may have lasted significantly longer than previously thought. Fieldwork in 2018 revealed nonnative ecofacts in a peat bog adjacent to the site, hinting at prolonged Norse activity or interactions with Indigenous peoples. Bayesian analysis of radiocarbon data supports the possibility that Norse settlement endured for nearly a century, challenging earlier interpretations. This discovery reshapes our understanding of pre-1492 transatlantic contact and raises intriguing questions about cultural exchange in the region.

Ledger, P. M., Girdland-Flink, L., & Forbes, V. (2019). New horizons at L’Anse aux Meadows. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 116(31), 15341–15343. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1907986116