h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Where did the whole Iceland thing come from? I've never heard that thesis...although I am aware of the Viking (specifically, Eric the Red) settlements in Martha's Vineyard and Newfundland.

All in all, very nice.

Thanks Montana. I thought I made it clear that it was just a story

No, I just wondered where you'd heard the story. I've never even heard it as a story, that's all. I caught the meaning, just not the source!

...Let me try that again. I've not heard that story. Where did you hear/read it?

Which is what I meant in the first damned place......

It seems to me that this legend is recounted as fact in the 1985 film Christoper Columbus with Gabriel Byrne as the titular hero. There's a little bit of a trail to follow here: http://www.cristobalcolondeibiza.com/eng/eng12.htm

The story on this side - UK is that Vikings got to "New World" before Columbus. Who cares anyway?

Of course the Vikings got here first. I was referring to the idea that Columbus sailed near Iceland.

And that's what makes historians...we care about stuff like this!

MR: see post # 4. And, I know that something being treated as fact in a film with Gabriel Byrne does not make that something, in fact, a fact.

Yes my wife is a historian and she would agree with you. I know my place Montana!

So... whattaya reckon? Should I take it out?

I say leave it in.

you have it cited, so why not leave it in? I was just startled, that's all.

I'm being misunderstood a lot lately.... Perhaps that's because I've fallen into grad school mode (i.e., talking elliptically, chronically in need of sleep, etc).