Kensington Runestone
The Kensington Runestone was found tangled in the roots of a tree by Olaf Ohman on November 8, 1898 on his farm near Kensington, Minnesota. The runic inscription on the stone was translated and published by Hjalmer R. Holand, sparking a debate over the relic's authenticity that continues to this day. Hoax or not, the runestone has had a noticeable impact on regional culture and has triggered numerous studies of the extent of Viking exploration of North America.
S.N. Hagen[1] translates the inscription as follows. Note that other translations vary somewhat, the most notable difference being the use of "dead" where Hagen reads "tortured" and "skerries" or "islands" for Hagen's "sheds."[2]
Eight Götlanders and twenty-two Norwegians on [this] exploration-journey from Vinland over the west. We had camp beside two sheds, one day's journey north from this stone. We were and fished one day; after we came home, found ten men red with blood and tortured. Hail, Mary! Deliver from evil! Have ten men by the sea to look after our ships, fourteen-day journey from this island. Year, 1362.