Where Did the Greenland Norse Get Their Timber? A New Study Points to North America.

Icelandic archaeologist Lísabet Guðmundsdóttir from the University of Iceland Has Found Evidence the Greenland Norse Imported Timber from North America

Introduction: The Search for Timber in Viking Settlements

In 985 AD, the first settlers from Scandinavia arrived in Greenland, as told in the Saga of Erik the Red and other historical sources. These settlements, located on Greenland's east and west coasts, endured harsh living conditions until they eventually disappeared around the 15th century. One of the biggest challenges the settlers faced was finding suitable timber for building houses and boats. According to the 13th-century Norwegian text Kongespeilet (King's mirror), all iron and wood had to be imported to Greenland.

Investigating Timber Origins in Greenland's Settlements

Icelandic archaeologist Lísabet Guðmundsdóttir from the University of Iceland sought to answer the question of where the Greenlanders got their timber by examining wood samples from various well-known settlements in Greenland. The study, published in the journal Antiquity, focused on sites such as Gården under Sandet (the farm beneath the sand) and the Eastern Settlement. The results confirmed that timber was imported from Norway, Northern Europe, and North America.

Greenland's Native Trees and the Role of Driftwood

Trees grow in Greenland but are mainly limited to rowan, birch, and juniper species. These trees, shaped by the local geography and conditions, are often short and twisted, making them unsuitable for construction. Much of the timber used in the Greenland Norse settlements was likely driftwood—wood carried by ocean currents and washed ashore in Greenland. Researchers believe that most of this driftwood was probably larch and pine.

Imported Timber from North America and Europe

Interestingly, the researchers also discovered remains of wood types that were not driftwood. These included species found only in North America, such as Jack pine and hemlock. These types of wood were probably imported from North America. Some varieties of pine and oak may have also been imported from Nordic countries or Europe. Remnants of American tree species were found on farms classified as high-status, suggesting that imported timber may have been reserved for the elite.

Sagas and the Connection to North America

The Icelandic researcher cites multiple sagas that mention timber imports from North America to Greenland. To date, only one Norse colony has been discovered in North America—L'Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland, which was founded around 1000 AD. The Saga of the Greenlanders alludes to the possibility of other colonies, but these have not yet been found.

Conclusion: The Importance of Driftwood and Imported Timber

Guðmundsdóttir believes that only a small but significant portion of the timber was imported. Driftwood was likely a crucial resource for the Greenland Norse. In this study, about 36% of the examined timber and wood remains were local species, while the rest were either driftwood or imported. The sagas indicate that journeys to North America were made to obtain resources, with timber being one of the primary items brought back to Greenland. The mysterious disappearance of the Norse settlements around 1450 still raises questions, with theories pointing to a harsher climate, famine, and conflicts with indigenous people.

Read the original study HERE.