A new book about Vikings in the High Arctic by Peter Schledermann is now
available. For more information, contact:
Corvus Press
Suite 704, 2010 Ulster Road, N.W.
Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4
Phone (403) 220-4008
FAX: (403) 282-4609
"Raven's Saga: An Arctic Odyssey"
by Peter Schledermann
Between 1978 and 1992, archaeological excavations on the central east
coast of Ellesmere Island uncovered one of the largest concentrations of
Norse artifacts discovered in North America. Most of the finds were made
in 700-year-old Inuit winter house ruins on Skraeling Island and
included chain mail pieces, Viking ship rivets, woven woolen cloth, a
carpenter's plane, and spear and knife blades. The Norse finds have been
widely published in the scientific and the general media and many of the
artifacts are currently on display at the Smithsonian exhibit, "Vikings:
The North Atlantic Saga," in Washington, D.C., and at the "Full Circle"
Viking exhibit in St. John's, Newfoundland.
In his new book, "Raven's Saga: An Arctic Odyssey," Peter Schledermann
has drawn on available historic and scientific evidence of Norse
activities in Greenland towards the end of the thirteenth century,
setting the stage for a Norse voyage of exploration to the High Arctic.
As the crew of the "Raven" watch familiar landmarks sink below the
southern horizon, they are aware of the importance of their mission: to
search for new areas to hunt walrus and narwhal and to learn about the
newcomers to their land-the Thule culture Inuit or "Skraelings" as the
Norsemen call them. The leader of the expedition, Tore Eyvindsson, is
aware that the voyage represents more than mere exploration-proud and
independent Greenlanders have watched with increasing alarm the gradual
erosion of their free state by the Church and the Norwegian crown. New
laws, increasing taxes, the enforcement of a Norwegian trade monopoly
and consolidation of ecclesiastic power and land ownership have placed
large numbers of crofters in crushing debt to powerful chieftains. At
the same time, deteriorating climatic conditions have reduced hay yields
and an already short growing season. Tore and his backers in Vesterbygd
are convinced that only the discovery of new sources of ivory and the
possibility of trading with Skraelings can counter the controlling
forces in Austerbygd that threaten Tore's family and friends.
"Raven's Saga: An Arctic Odyssey" (softbound, 348 pages) can be obtained
from:
Corvus Press
Suite 704, 2010 Ulster Road, N.W.
Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4
Phone (403) 220-4008
FAX: (403) 282-4609
Email: schleder [at] ucalgary.ca
Cost: Cdn. $15.00; US $12.00 plus shipping ($6.00 in Canada and the US;
$10.00 overseas)
Payable by Check, Money Order or Visa.