THE KENSINGTON RUNESTONE: Commentary and Speculation by Bob Voyles

  About "chemical fingerprinting of iron weapons," Professor of Mediterranean Prehistory, Mark Pearce adds: “This is an exciting collaboration that will use the latest scientific techniques to reveal the unique isotope composition of these ancient artefacts and how this informs us where they were made. The project will revolutionise our understanding of archaeological iron objects, finally giving us a method accurately to pinpoint their origin.” From Bob:  We can only hope that some iron objects in the Runestone Museum's collection may eventually be chemically fingerprinted, to determine points of origin, if possible.  A good place to start may be with the bardiche axe found at Norway Lake, Minnesota.  If Peter Stormare ever decides to continue on with his TV episodes about the KRS, the fantastic story about Norway Lake's axe and possible submerged runestone would be a wonderful place to begin a new search.  In the meantime, chemical testing of the axe (and other obj

There are many, many stoneholes in Minnesota.  Just several days ago, a chart was posted here showing several reasons for proposed medieval stoneholes to exist, along with several reasons for so-called "modern" stoneholes to exist (in this case, stoneholes from the late 1800s).  My purpose for this brief essay is to hone in on comparing and contrasting the aging of some of these stoneholes.  Yes, it can be done, and to great effect.   Let's do it here, then.  Okay, this will be an exercise in just one aspect of empirical evidence, that being:  visual observation, or "just plain seeing."     I would like to invite readers to look at the crispness of the edges of the large and fancy "star" stonehole seen at the top of this page, and then compare what you see with the edges of the small diameter stonehole.  What you are seeing with a little help from a flashlight is simple and clear empirical evidence showing a remarkable degree of contrast in the aging o

  A beautiful noon Sunday in May at a secluded ridgeline south of Appleton, Minnesota.  Gusty winds and about 74 degrees.  I haven't visited the site for a few years...since Peter Stormare and his film crew came to the site back in 2018.  I came today a bit anxious that all would be okay, and it was.  I noticed that a lot of invading buckthorn had recently been cut out of the area, and invading prairie gophers hadn't upheaved the topsoil too badly..  Here I am with a happy smile on my face and a fancy stonehole at my hand, one of my favorites at the site.  By common medieval Norse standards, this kind of large stonehole was unknown.  I believe there are both Norse and late 1800's stoneholes at this same remote spot on the ridgeline.  I will show you fine examples of both in this photo-trip.  Your understanding will be increased by first seeing my blog entry for the "Norse Code-stone."  It doesn't look like it, but this is the beginnings of a freshwater spring

  This old photo at Minnesota's Pope County Museum, entitled "1869 Survey Team With Glenwood in the Background," has helped me to understand what some of the stoneholes were made for in Minnesota during the latter half of the 19th century, apparently related to early railroad surveying and keeping tents secure on windy ridgelines.  Please note in the photo that a pole stuck into a hole in a rock is effectively being used with a tent-tie to help secure the tent. A similar situation presents itself on a lonely and windswept ridgeline a few counties away, in Lac Qui Parle county, south of Appleton.  Indeed, at this site, there are about 40 large, machine-made stoneholes, some revealing a "foundation pattern" suggesting tents being secured.  Again, this is directly on a ridgeline, as in the Glenwood photo. However, in my opinion, these fairly "modern" stoneholes have nothing to do with several of the stonehole rocks at the same site near Appleton, those ex