Charts from early navigators such as Nicolas of Lynn (1330-1390) indicate that the Arctic provided the first routes to the New World - to Iceland, Greenland, Ellesmere Island, Baffin Island, and down the coast of North America. Their ancient records probably encouraged Columbus to try a southern route.

A runestone found in Minnesota might indicate that explorers may have made it all the way to the Great Lakes by 1362 - via the Arctic route!

If the runestone is geniune, it would change the understanding of medieval history. It would mean that not only did the Norse explore far wider areas of the North American continent than previously thought, but that the period of Norse exploration lasted centuries longer than historians have believed.

If the stone is a fake, it is one of the finest hoaxes on record, for not only did it outlive the jesters, but their children and grandchildren as well.

INSCRIPTION ON RUNESTONE: "Eight Goths and 22 Norwegians on a journey of exploration from Vinland very far west. We had camp by two rocky islands one day's journey north from this stone. We were out fishing one day. After we came home we found ten men red with blood and dead. AVM save from evil. Have ten men by the sea to look after our ships fourteen days journey from this island. Year 1362"