THE KENSINGTON RUNESTONE: Commentary and Speculation by Bob Voyles

 

 Photos taken on May 15, 2022, by Bob Voyles. Arriving at this spot back during "medieval times" must have been a delight to Native Americans and Norsemen alike.  Pure, fresh, cold springwater was literally at hand, gurgling right up out of the edge of the prairie. It seems that part of the Norse Code-stone function was that of a compass...a compass on the prairie, if you will, specifically pointing out east and north.  (Of course, south and west is then also understood.)  If further interested, read my main article about the Code-stone.   Marsh Lake has the largest Pelican rookery in Minnesota.  I captured this shot from the pond area using a Canon EOS Rebel T2i, with a Zoom Lens.

Taking Leonardo da Vinci's advice, here is what I think is both "simplicity" and "the ultimate sophistication" in presenting Minnesota's Norse Code-stones, discovered in 2013 and 2022 near Appleton.  The message is unmistakeable when the site is examined by a ferrous-only metal detector.  Are there any playful "Norse" minds out there?  If so, you may wonder what is buried where "X marks the spot."  Hint:  the Pomme de Terre River discharges into the beginnings of the Minnesota River (Marsh Lake) just a bit north of the Code-stones site.  Unfortunately, there is no curiosity from the Minnesota Historical Society or from the State Archaeologist...there is only year-after-year neglect...and even worse, hinderance.  Why?  Make a guess....

...just speculating, of course.  Here are various angles of the rock over the years (all photos by myself), perhaps a piece of the puzzle.  Holand had his picture taken with this rock when it was located below the hill, eastwardly, before it was moved to the top of Runestone Hill with another stonehole rock to show visitors (foolishly) what a "mooring stone" looks like.  If this rock was used as a sort of support or holder for the KRS, it would seem like a grand coincidence for it to once again be in position very close to where the KRS was unearthed.  There is more information about this particular stonehole rock in other articles on this blog, if further interested.  

       I can imagine how difficult it must be for some people--especially those not from Minnesota or else living overseas--to understand where particular locations are in relationship to the Kensington Runestone...so I decided to create a sort of "KRS Locational Chart" to make the task a bit easier.  Of course, the importance of each location is according to my own personal speculation.  Many of the sites are well known to KRS researchers, with a few possible exceptions.  I have essays about most of the sites listed here that can be seen at my blog at americanrunestone.blogspot.com. Number one,the KRS, discovered about four miles east of the Chippewa River.  The Chippewa River begins in the Brandon area (think Brandon Axe) and empties into the Minnesota River by Granite Falls.  My view is that the Chippewa River figures heavily in the KRS storyline, since I believe it was by this river that the Norse explorers reached not only Runestone Hill...

What I am proposing here are three examples of what I believe were purposefully "cracked-off" slabs of rock from authentic, handmade Norse stoneholes in this Minnesota region.  I am also proposing that these slabs of rock were purposely cracked-off at the same time of each stonehole's making.  But why would a Norseman do this?  I believe the answer is simply, "to grab a returning Norseman's attention."  In this case, they have grabbed my attention...and a pattern seems to have emerged. One might say that this new knowledge is based on empirical evidence called "sense experience," which in these three cases involves simple visual observation.  What I have seen is that in each of these three cases, the same approximate aging exists in the area around the stoneholes as in the stoneholes themselves. Below are photos I have taken of the three stonehole rocks in question.  I will present them to you in the same chronological order as I took notice of the...

  For those who are already somewhat familiar with the story of the Norse Code-stone, I wanted to present the several encoded Norse stonehole rocks on a remote ridgeline near Appleton, Minnesota in an aerial view, especially now since another stonehole rock was discovered at the site only a month or so ago.  I've tried with this crude drawing to show the placement of the 6 proposed Norse stonehole rocks in relationship to one another. I believe the case for a "Compass on the Prairie" was helped out by finding the new stonehole rock, in that it appears to have been placed directly north, several feet from the main Code-stone (the one having 3 holes).  So, east and north were established at the site, using stonehole rocks.  Why?  We can only guess.  It seems that people were expecting to come back some day...but didn't...which intensifies the curiosity for what may be buried there, where a ferrous-only metal detector points to, in a "missing spot."  The ...

  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 oth...

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 con...

  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 beginn...