Where is Vinland?

In the April-May 2014 issue of Canada’s History, the feature article Arctic Vikings by David Keys suggests that Norsemen traveled further through Canada’s north than previously thought. Readers are reminded that many questions remain unanswered when it comes to our Scandinavian visitors.

A great resource for teachers on this subject comes from the Great Unsolved Mysteries in Canadian History Project. Launched in 1997, this project presents evidence from “unsolved” historical questions and invites students to come up with their own interpretation of the event. Where is Vinland? is one of twelve mysteries for students to explore.

This episode encourages students to uncover the truth about the mystical land of Vinland – the land of wine (or meadows? or berries?) – that was common in Norse sagas. Students are presented with background information about Norse language, political and economic systems, and emigration and colonization patterns to aid their quest. They’re also presented with archaeological evidence about the Viking site at L’Anse aux Meadows and then asked to consider three possible candidates for the real location of Vinland.

Teachers’ guides are available to help educators navigate through all the material. You can also register to gain access to the interpretation section, where teachers and students can learn about some of the theories by current historians.

Visit CanadianMysteries.ca to start your history mystery!

Related Content:

• Listen to our podcast with co-directors Peter Gossage, John Lutz, and Ruth Sandwell about the project and their 2008 Governor General's History Award for Popular Media: the Pierre Berton Award.