Not only were the Vikings in North America that early, but they were trading with the locals[0]. This might seem moot at first blush, seeing as these beads were

Not only were the Vikings in North America that early, but they were trading with the locals[0]. This might seem moot at first blush, seeing as these beads were found in Alaska--3,000 miles away from newfoundland! But once you recall that both places fell within the range of the Inuit (who were masters of transportation over water!) the distance hardly seems like an impediment. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leif_Erikson#Norse_encounters_with_the_Indigenous_peoples https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leif_Erikson#Norse_encounters_... [1]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inuit https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inuit