Spirit Pond runestones, Disputed runestones at Spirit Pond, Maine, United States
The Spirit Pond runestones are three small stones with runic inscriptions now housed in the Maine State Museum. Their surfaces bear text patterns and what may be a map of the local landscape.
These stones were discovered in 1971 during an archaeological exploration near Spirit Pond in Phippsburg. The find sparked debate about possible Norse presence in North America and drew scholarly attention.
The stones sparked debates about potential Norse presence in North America, leading to extensive research by Harvard professor Einar Haugen in 1974.
The stones are on display at the Maine State Museum in Augusta, where visitors can examine the inscriptions and details closely. It is worth checking museum hours before visiting and taking time to study the artifacts carefully.
One of the three stones bears approximately fifteen lines of text across two sides with detailed surface work. Some researchers have speculated that the carved map might actually represent the surrounding area with its distinctive landscape features.
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