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Vikings are Cooler than Previously Thought

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posted on Nov, 15 2011 @ 02:06 PM
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Viking legend has it that sailors could hold up crystal sunstones to the sky to help them find their way. Turns out the legend could be truea team of researchers found that a type of crystal called an Icelandic spar commonly found in that country could accurately reveal the position of the sun in cloudy or near-dark conditions.
Researchers have long wondered and argued about how the Vikings were able to successfully navigate their way around the Northern Hemisphere in the late eighth to 11th centuries, hundreds of years before the magnetic compass reached Europe around 1300. Besides the direction of the wind, waves, and swell, the only way to navigate during the day away from shore is by knowing the sun’s direction. But that’s not so easy on a foggy or stormy day, or during the long twilight of Northern summers.
One such crystal was recently found in the 1592 shipwreck of an Elizabethan vessel in the English channel. The researchers think its likely to have been used to aid navigation, due to its shape and their calculation that the presence of even the one large cannon found aboard would interfere with compass readings. This suggests these types of sunstones were in use more than 200 years before polarized light was first discovered, and possibly used even earlier by the Vikings to navigate the open seas. (Source Discover Magazine)

Modern people hear terms like "Sunstone" and scoff at the superstitious silliness, but there's so much about history we just don't (and probably never will) understand. Hearing about ancient Scandinavians using mystical crystals to navigate the seas just makes me smile..



posted on Nov, 15 2011 @ 02:15 PM
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thanks for that, very interesting read, any pictures youve come accross?



posted on Nov, 15 2011 @ 02:20 PM
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If we want to believe that history is how its suppose be then there are so many gaps in it that start to make you wonder, what else are they hiding from us. I am a strong supporter of alternative history. There is just so much that makes you wonder, what happened to us. And why did we fail so many times.



posted on Nov, 15 2011 @ 02:21 PM
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Three minerals from Scandinavia that may be the legendary Sunstones of the Norse navigators. Demonstration of the double refraction of Iceland spar (calcite), splitting polarized light in two directions.



posted on Nov, 15 2011 @ 02:24 PM
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reply to post by Meekbot2000
 

Meekbot2000,Thank you for posting ..I put a video up that shows what it may look like..Peace,sugarcookie



posted on Nov, 15 2011 @ 02:31 PM
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reply to post by sparky8580
 


I know they need to change the history books there is so much history that they are hiding from us but as time goes by there finding more about us and allot of its coming to light..I'm also a supporter of alternative history its very interesting..Peace,sugarcookie1



posted on Nov, 15 2011 @ 02:32 PM
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reply to post by sugarcookie1
 


We generally dont know about these things because of wars, as whole countries are wiped out so is the technology.
edit on 15-11-2011 by TheMindWar because: Desc change.



posted on Nov, 15 2011 @ 02:37 PM
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reply to post by TheMindWar
 


Thats true TheMindWar..But i have to wonder how much is hidden from us like in Egypt i think there is allot out there that is being kept a secret..Thanks for posting,Peace,sugarcookie1



posted on Nov, 15 2011 @ 02:38 PM
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reply to post by sugarcookie1
 


The modern people who scoff at the superstitious silliness when they hear crystals and sunstones and the like are usually the ones wearing a watch that is more than likely has a crystal in it to keep time.
Vikings are cool and got around a bit, seems they might of had a bit of a clue how to get to places.
edit on 15-11-2011 by ZeussusZ because: (no reason given)



posted on Nov, 15 2011 @ 02:43 PM
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Vikings have always been cool, Pissed of regular farmers had enough and started to take off heads. They had some secrets and primitive really neat advanced tech, and knowledge of a lot of unknown. More to them than anyone really knows.



posted on Nov, 15 2011 @ 02:44 PM
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Wow, that's pretty interesting. It's so crazy to think about how many things we still don't know about previous peoples. Fascinating.



posted on Nov, 15 2011 @ 02:48 PM
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reply to post by sugarcookie1
 


Nice find. It is truly a sad condition when true history is ignored or purposely omitted from the record. The amazing part of these items is the detailed science behind such a low tech piece of equipment.



posted on Nov, 15 2011 @ 02:59 PM
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Sunstone helps you develop your own originality, encourages independence and alleviates fearfulness. It is said to bring good fortune and abundance. Sunstone's were used for many things it also makes stuning jewlery..Peace,sugarcookie1



posted on Nov, 15 2011 @ 03:12 PM
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reply to post by SmashPapayaKC
 


Most of us think of Vikings, we see horn-helmeted violent blond men raping and pillaging everything in sight..But they were actually skilled weapon smiths..Were finding out there not the savages they were thought to be..Peace,sugarcookie1



posted on Nov, 15 2011 @ 03:14 PM
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reply to post by davereality
 


Were finding out new things every day..Im sure there is more to come..Peace,sugarcookie1



posted on Nov, 15 2011 @ 03:18 PM
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Last night they sucked... 45-7... Come-on man!!!!



posted on Nov, 15 2011 @ 03:20 PM
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reply to post by CoolBreez
 


I'm starting to think its more purposely omitted then ignored ..Peace,sugarcookie1



posted on Nov, 15 2011 @ 03:22 PM
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Lets set the record straight shall we? The Vikings had there "wonder years" during that time in European history that was known as the medieval warm moment. That was the time in Europe's past that went from about the year 800ad to about 1000ad. At that time things were so nice in Britain that they were able to grow grapes, and compete with French wine makers at the time. The French noticed and they didn't like it. As for the Vikings we know now they made it as far west as the east coast of Canada and what is today the United States. But they never lasted. Wonder why? The Viking denigrated the locals they met when they hit the new world. The called them, and this is a fair translation as "the ugly brown little ones" Pity they could have survived in the new world if only they had been willing to learn from those who had lived under such adverse conditions for so long.

It is quite interesting that the many peoples, like the Chinese possibly, but we know as a fact the Vikings did make landfall in the new world. But they didn't last. For so long we attributed their short success to what they could do during the medieval warm period. But when the weather grew tight, priorities changed. Day to day survival became impossible. And to think we would have had a very different world if they in there time were not blinded by there own bigotry.



posted on Nov, 15 2011 @ 03:22 PM
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reply to post by klarkowski67
 


LOL go Vikings!! They just had a bad night is all but yeah they did suck..I live in Minnesota..peace,sugarcookie1



posted on Nov, 15 2011 @ 03:35 PM
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reply to post by arbiture
 


One of the main factors is that towards the end of the Vikings history strong nations formed in Scandinavia under strong kings. Another major factor contributing to the end of Viking history was the coming of Christianity as the main religion in Scandinavia. The Christian church believed Christians should not enslave fellow Christians. This removed much of the economic incentive for conducting raids.
Peace,sugarcookie1



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