In the 1950s, a parchment map depicting "Vinland," near present-day Labrador or Newfoundland, surfaced in Europe.  Now housed at Yale University, this map has been the subject of intense controversy: is it the earliest map of North America or is it a modern forgery?  Using radioactive carbon dating, scientists offer convincing evidence of authenticity and a date of 1434 A.D., nearly sixty years before the arrival of Columbus.

Hosted by: Program on Ancient Technologies and Archaeological Materials

In conjunction with:  Campus Honors Program, Department of Anthropology, Department of the Classics, Department of Geology, Department of History, Department of Physics, Illinois Transportation Archaeological Research Program, Materials Research Laboratory, Medieval Studies Program, School of Chemical Sciences, Spurlock Museum.