At the tip of Newfoundland’s Great Northern Peninsula lies the first known evidence of European presence in the Americas. Here Norse expeditions sailed from Greenland, building a small encampment of timber-and-sod buildings over 1000 years ago Against a stunning backdrop of rugged cliffs, bog, and coastline, discover the fascinating archaeological remains of the Viking encampment, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. You’ll meet costumed Viking interpreters as you tour the recreated base camp and discover original artifacts from this internationally renowned archaeological find.
HISTORY: L’Anse Aux Meadows National Historic Site is considered the first European settlement in North America, and its 11th-century archeological remains were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. Located at the tip of the Great Northern Peninsula of the island of Newfoundland, the site contains remains of wood-framed, peat-turf buildings similar to those found in Norse Greenland and Iceland.
VISIT: Notable among the archeological remains at L’Anse Aux Meadows National Historic Site is evidence of the earliest known iron smelting on the continent. In recognition of this significance, the site celebrates an Annual Full Iron Smelt. Join Ragnar Red Beard and his crew as they produce iron in the method typically used by Norse metalsmiths.