Oklahoma harbors the most Viking runestones in the U.S.
exposure a Viking longship slipping through the water of the Poteau River inOklahoma , oars splash and sheet curve in the fart . Around 600 to 800 A.D. , a group of Vikings—30 to 60 explorers , possibly led by one named Glome — foregather in a longhouse in Newfoundland , plot their expedition along the eastern glide . With land in flock as they navigated around Florida , they make out the Mississippi River in the Gulf of Mexico and ventured inland .
Many historians , including Heavener , Oklahoma local and late historian Gloria Farley , believe this setting really occurred . It helps that the Vikings left behind evidence : runestones scatter across Oklahoma .
Now , you’re able to trek toHeavener Runestone Parkto wonder at the carving that may have last over a thousand twelvemonth .
Heavener Runestone Park vista.|Photo by Lee Griffin
draw close deep in the Ouachita Mountains , the runestone — a 12 - groundwork marvellous sandstone slab — is located in a ravine surrounded by 40 - foot drop-off . A series of wooden walkways and steep rough - hand-hewn stone steps take you down into the ravine . It ’s breathtaking — both from the beauty of the little falls doss down over the cliffs and the difficulty of the mount . Be discourage : this is not approachable . At time , I find myself like for additional manus railings as I picked my fashion down the uneven steps . Several wooden benches provide rest places along the way .
At the bottom , a small wooden building protects the runestone from more weather eating away . Inside the dimly light edifice , behind a sheet of looking glass , remain firm a twelve - metrical foot marvelous slab of sandstone . The carve rune are distinctly visible , as are other carvings from over the years when the stone was less protected . I felt shudder as I take care at the cutting and mull over the mystery of who carved it so long ago .
In 1923 , the Smithsonian discover them as the 24 - rune FUTHARK , the erstwhile Viking alphabet , used between 300 and 800 A.D. Oklahoma now has found six Viking runestones , more than any other res publica . Some assimilator suggest the carvings were made by a Swedish immigrant in the 1800s . But Farley dedicated her living to defending their Viking root against doubter .
These early explorer would have entrust their ships safely bank , then trip on foot . There , they used tools to chip at the runic marking . Scholars believe the Heavener Runestone is a boundary marker , and the inscription means , “ Valley of Glome . ” Whether Glome signify to settle there or merely name a opus of far flung land after himself , he left his mark in account .
