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Inscribed Message on the Kensington Runestone

Given below is likely the first reliable translation of the message inscribed on the KRS.  It is by Hjalmar Holand, copied from page 166 of his 1958 book entitled "Explorations in America Before Columbus."  (The words in parentheses are his and are not in the actual inscription.)  The KRS is presently on display at the Runestone Museum in Alexandria, Minnesota, and the photo of the KRS given below was taken by me, Gunn.

In some of the initial future posts to this new blog, I am planning to discuss the waterways leading to Runestone Hill, along with a discussion of the many authentic "Norse" medieval stoneholes dotting the regional landscape.  I also plan to discuss portions of the inscription, such as locating the "lake with 2 skerries," and taking a look at some of the geological features of Runestone Hill.

It is my personal view that the message on the KRS is a straightforward and true accounting of an event that actually took place 130 years before the time of Columbus--1492.  It is also my view that the placing of the KRS had absolutely nothing to do with Vikings, since a quarter of a millennium separates the end of the Viking Age (approximately AD 1100) from the date carved into the KRS--1362.

In this regard, I will also be discussing the 28-foot tall statue known locally as Big Ole (the Viking), standing a mere stone's-throw away from where the KRS is on display.  On his shield, Big Ole is claiming that Alexandria is the "Birthplace of America," which is a blatantly false and confusing notion to visitors who come to see the KRS...especially to impressionable children.

And finally, I am planning to bring attention to, and discussing, several little-known area historical sites having a general connection to the era of the KRS, such as the Sauk Lake Altar Rock site and the proposed Norse Code-stone site (google each for heads-up details).

(We are) 8 Goths (Swedes) and 22 Norwegians on (an) exploration journey from Vinland round about the west.  We had camp by (a lake with) 2 skerries one day's journey north from this stone.  We were (out) and fished one day.  After we came home (we) found ten of our men red with blood and dead.  AVM (Ave Virgo Maria) save (us) from evil.  (We) have ten men by the sea to look after our ships 14 days-journey from this island.  (In the) year (of our Lord) 1362.

Comments

  1. Gunn SinclairJuly 5, 2019 at 10:28 AM

    In order to foster initial public participation on this new blog, I have decided to give away five copies of my recently published book to anyone who wants a free copy. The title is currently available at Amazon.com: "Templar Eclipse at Runestone Hill--Updated Second Edition." If you would like a signed copy, please leave a comment (nothing rude please) suitable to the topic of discussion--the KRS, and let me know at whitefox3@comcast.net where you'd like your copy sent to. (The novel is a Young Adult story, but adults have enjoyed it too!)

    ReplyDelete
  2. VikingnavyJuly 14, 2019 at 2:02 AM

    Here is my translation of the kensington rune stone.
    www.sjolander.com/viking/vinland/western.htm

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gunn SinclairJuly 14, 2019 at 8:29 AM

      Vikingnavy, I checked out your translation, but frankly, it makes no sense to me at all. I consider myself to be a "KRS message purist," which means that I take the message at its face value--that is, I take the message to be a simple and true story about a tragedy that really happened. Your translation is wildly different from the several typical translations that only differ in a few respects. In my view, another wild translation is Scott Wolter's position that the message can be reduced down to "masonic numbers." I see plenty of evidence that the more typical translations are accurate...a good example is that Runestone Hill is, in fact, a peninsula-island, as described in the message. I also have reason to believe that I found the "lake with two skerries" talked about in the message as being a day's travel north from Runestone Hill. Davidson Lake is just off the Chippewa River north from Runestone Hill, and on the west bank of this lake with two skerries was found the Erdahl Axe in 1894, a foot and a half deep, under a stump more than two feet across. I have provided a copy of a pdf I put together about this to the Minnesota Historical Society, and they archived it within the KRS holdings. I plan to include my summary about finding the lake with two skerries here on this blog soon. Vikingnavy, you qualify for a free copy of my recently published book if you care to provide me with a suitable address to send it to. You can let me know via my email address: whitefox3@comcast.net

      Delete
  3. Tru LeighJuly 19, 2019 at 9:53 PM

    How does your translation differ from Scott Wolters?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Gunn SinclairJuly 19, 2019 at 10:09 PM

    Hi Tru Leigh. Caught me just before going to bed. It's not that my translation is different than Wolters, it's that our interpretation of the inscribed message is different. I take the message as a true story of what actually happened, while Wolter's interpretation of the message is rendered down to numbers...Masonic numbers. So, he seems to think the story details aren't true, quite different from my outlook. For instance, I see that the message describes Runestone Hill as an actual place...described as a peninsula-island, and I take the "Lake With Two Skerries" as an actual place, too, where an actual bloody massacre took place. I believe wholeheartedly that the message is telling a true story in every detail, while Wolter seems to think the message is conveying a different story--a Masonic story based on numbers. Thanks for the question.

    ReplyDelete

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