News in Kensington

	News in Kensington
News in Kensington Business Directory Runestone Park The History of Kensington The Story of the Runestone Maps to Kensington Churches & Schools City Government Recreation Areas Community Calendar Email Home	The Kensington Runestone, currently housed in the Runestone Museum in Alexandria, has once again become the center of attention, not only in Minnesota but all over the world. In effort to clarify history and authenticate the stone, a scientific testing team was assembled to formally study the physical features of the stone and its runes. Museum Executive Director, LuAnn Patton working closely with Scott Wolter, President of American Petrographic Services, the geologist in charge of the stone's testing; and Dr. Richard Nielsen, Nielsen Engineering, of Houston, Texas, an engineer and language researcher who has studied the stone's inscription for over 15 years; presented the most recent testing results and research information on the work being done on the Kensington Runestone. To date this information on the stone and its testing has been presented in 3 countries and 12 states. A presentation in Columbus, Georgia proved successful. The testing team was awarded a $5000 grant to move forward with phase 2 testing that includes a tombstone study. Samples have already been taken and testing is well underway. Results of the tests are not yet published, but are positive. United International Film Corp. visited the museum last September filming the stone and other artifacts we have for an upcoming 2 hour TV documentary entitled 1362: The Kensington Runestone. The crew spent a few days here visiting Kensington, the park, filming in the museum as well as interviews with the scientific testing team members. They are traveling all over the country collecting information on the Vikings and other runestones to include in their documentary. Producer Ed Larson projected a late 2003 broadcast date. Writer Lars Westman from Stockholm Sweden spent a week in Minnesota in September 2003. Lars, a very popular writer in Europe, recently published the first of many articles on the Kensington Runestone. The article was published, complete with photos, in "Vi" (we) magazine from Sweden. The eight-page spread is a huge accomplishment for the research and testing team. The article has been translated and is available for viewing at the museum. A presentation in Reno, Nevada was a huge success. The National Association of Professional Geologists representing geologists from all over the country listened intently to testing team members Geologist Scott Wolter, and Museum Director LuAnn Patton as they told the stones story and testing results. The interest was so great that the museum's website had over 300 hits during the convention. On Mother's Day 2003 Norwegian newspaper reporter Kurt Malastedt visited the museum and then traveled with Dr. Nielsen and Mr. Wolter to the Kensington Park to visit with local historians. His article, just recently published, has also been translated for the public. In the fall of 2003, Dr. Nielsen, Mr. Wolter, and Ms. Patton traveled with the stone to Stockholm, Sweden where the stone was involved in an exhibit of Swedish runestones. A conference was held for scholars and experts from Scandinavia to discuss our team's testing results and exchange other research results done in Sweden by other team members. Dr. Richard Nielsen, after 14 years of extensive study, released this translation in September of 1999: "8 Goths and 20tens + 2 North men are on acquisition business from Vinland far to the west we had an encampment by 2 shelters one day's time north from this stone We were fishing one day. After we came home I found 10 men red from blood and dead/death Hail Mary deliver from evil." The following lines appear on the edge of the stone: "I have 10 man by the sea to attend to our ship ten+4 day's journey from this wealth. Year of Christ thousand + 3 hundred + 6 tens + 2 After considerable exploration, the lake with the skerries (rocky islands) referred to on the stone was identified as possibly Cormorant Lake in Becker County, Minnesota. At Cormorant Lake are three large boulders with triangular drilled holes. It is claimed that this was done for the purpose of mooring boats in the same way as it was done along the coast of Norway in the 14th century. The rocks on Cormorant Lake have become known as the 'Anchor Rocks' or 'Mooring Rocks.' H.R. Holand discovered similar 'mooring' rocks near where the stone was found. The "sea" referred to as the place where the ships were left has been identified as possibly Hudson Bay and to reach Cormorant Lake, the party came down the Nelson River to Lake Winnipeg, then the Red River of the North and thence to Cormorant Lake. A Scandinavian fire steel of the 14th century and other possible artifacts have been found in the vicinity of the route the party may have taken to reach Kensington MN. Be sure to visit us at the Runestone Museum at Alexandria for a tour, or visit our website at www.runestonemuseum.org.

The Kensington Runestone, currently housed in the Runestone Museum in Alexandria, has once again become the center of attention, not only in Minnesota but all over the world.

In effort to clarify history and authenticate the stone, a scientific testing team was assembled to formally study the physical features of the stone and its runes. Museum Executive Director, LuAnn Patton working closely with Scott Wolter, President of American Petrographic Services, the geologist in charge of the stone's testing; and Dr. Richard Nielsen, Nielsen Engineering, of Houston, Texas, an engineer and language researcher who has studied the stone's inscription for over 15 years; presented the most recent testing results and research information on the work being done on the Kensington Runestone. To date this information on the stone and its testing has been presented in 3 countries and 12 states.

A presentation in Columbus, Georgia proved successful. The testing team was awarded a $5000 grant to move forward with phase 2 testing that includes a tombstone study. Samples have already been taken and testing is well underway. Results of the tests are not yet published, but are positive.

United International Film Corp. visited the museum last September filming the stone and other artifacts we have for an upcoming 2 hour TV documentary entitled 1362: The Kensington Runestone. The crew spent a few days here visiting Kensington, the park, filming in the museum as well as interviews with the scientific testing team members. They are traveling all over the country collecting information on the Vikings and other runestones to include in their documentary. Producer Ed Larson projected a late 2003 broadcast date.

Writer Lars Westman from Stockholm Sweden spent a week in Minnesota in September 2003. Lars, a very popular writer in Europe, recently published the first of many articles on the Kensington Runestone. The article was published, complete with photos, in "Vi" (we) magazine from Sweden. The eight-page spread is a huge accomplishment for the research and testing team. The article has been translated and is available for viewing at the museum.

A presentation in Reno, Nevada was a huge success. The National Association of Professional Geologists representing geologists from all over the country listened intently to testing team members Geologist Scott Wolter, and Museum Director LuAnn Patton as they told the stones story and testing results. The interest was so great that the museum's website had over 300 hits during the convention.

On Mother's Day 2003 Norwegian newspaper reporter Kurt Malastedt visited the museum and then traveled with Dr. Nielsen and Mr. Wolter to the Kensington Park to visit with local historians. His article, just recently published, has also been translated for the public.

In the fall of 2003, Dr. Nielsen, Mr. Wolter, and Ms. Patton traveled with the stone to Stockholm, Sweden where the stone was involved in an exhibit of Swedish runestones. A conference was held for scholars and experts from Scandinavia to discuss our team's testing results and exchange other research results done in Sweden by other team members.

Dr. Richard Nielsen, after 14 years of extensive study, released this translation in September of 1999: "8 Goths and 20tens + 2 North men are on acquisition business from Vinland far to the west we had an encampment by 2 shelters one day's time north from this stone We were fishing one day. After we came home I found 10 men red from blood and dead/death Hail Mary deliver from evil."

The following lines appear on the edge of the stone: "I have 10 man by the sea to attend to our ship ten+4 day's journey from this wealth. Year of Christ thousand + 3 hundred + 6 tens + 2

After considerable exploration, the lake with the skerries (rocky islands) referred to on the stone was identified as possibly Cormorant Lake in Becker County, Minnesota. At Cormorant Lake are three large boulders with triangular drilled holes. It is claimed that this was done for the purpose of mooring boats in the same way as it was done along the coast of Norway in the 14th century. The rocks on Cormorant Lake have become known as the 'Anchor Rocks' or 'Mooring Rocks.' H.R. Holand discovered similar 'mooring' rocks near where the stone was found.

The "sea" referred to as the place where the ships were left has been identified as possibly Hudson Bay and to reach Cormorant Lake, the party came down the Nelson River to Lake Winnipeg, then the Red River of the North and thence to Cormorant Lake.

A Scandinavian fire steel of the 14th century and other possible artifacts have been found in the vicinity of the route the party may have taken to reach Kensington MN.

Be sure to visit us at the Runestone Museum at Alexandria for a tour, or visit our website at www.runestonemuseum.org.