4 ms·
They were described reasonably well in multiple sagas, listed on inventory sheets, and they actually found one in a shipwreck. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Su
by halviti 11y ago
They were described reasonably well in multiple sagas, listed on inventory sheets, and they actually found one in a shipwreck.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunstone_(medieval) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunstone_(medieval)
IMHO, I think is sufficient evidence to say that it is reasonably likely they were using these.
- Luc 11y agoI'm sure people have found all kinds of stuff described reasonable well in myths. Isn't there books written about UFO sightings in the bible? Churches and monasteries had them in their inventories, but how does that prove they were used for navigation? It would be like churches keeping sextants under the altar. It doesn't make sense. The shipwreck that contained the calcite was found far away in the Channel and dated 500 years after the vikings. And there's no record of it in any navigation books of the time. It's myths and internet memes, being propagated over and over again. I don't doubt it'll be on HN again 3 months hence.
- empath75 11y agoI think there's a different level of skepticism needed for ufos and fairly simple piece of technology. While I don't think the case has been proved its certainly one of those things where there's a reasonable chance of it being true.
- Luc 11y agoNah, it doesn't pass the sniff test once you start looking at the details. I don't have time now, but you could look in the archives of NavList at fer3.com for more info.
- dalke 11y agoThe wreck was a 16th-century warship, not a Norse ship from the Viking era.