Norse sailors, known as
Vikings, explored and settled areas of the North Atlantic, including the northeast fringes of
North America, beginning in the 10th century. While this settlement process did not have the lasting effects that later settlements and conquests would have, it can be seen as a prelude to wide-scale European settlement in the Americas.
The Viking activities are often erroneously described as the Viking colonization of North America, but there are few findings to support the idea that the Vikings colonized North America,[1] except for Greenland which they occupied for almost 500 years (see below). Outside Greenland, though, the Viking settlements only grew to a small size and never fully developed into permanent colonies, partly because of hostile relations with Native Americans, whom the Norse referred to as Skrælings. In turn, the Viking exploited the natural resources such as furs and lumber. Lumber, in particular, was in short supply in Norse Greenland, due to deforestation.[2]
Purported runestones have been found in North America (e.g. the Kensington Runestone, Newport Tower and Heavener Runestone) that are thought by some to be artifacts from further Viking exploration. However, these runestones are generally considered to be forgeries. There is a map depicting North America, the Vinland map, that some believe is related to Norse exploration.
According to the sagas of Icelanders, Vikings from Iceland first discovered Greenland in the 980s. Erik the Red led a settlement expedition there in 982. At its peak, the colony consisted of two settlements with a total population of between 3,000 and 5,000; at least 400 farms have been identified by archaeologists.
