Differences between L�Anse aux Meadows 
National Historic Site Encampment and Norstead Information Sheet

• In 2000, as part of the heritage presentation program at L'Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site, the Viking Trail Tourism Association is once again pleased to present its annual Viking Encampment.

• At the national historic site, historic interpreters re-enact activities that are historically related to the site, based on the artefacts uncovered there.

• Visitors can continue to enhance their understanding of the Norse presence in North America by taking in the Viking Encampment as part of their visit to the site.

• Norstead is a newly-created encampment that will take place in the year 2000 for eight weeks and which will be a permanent tourism attraction in the years beyond.

• The VTTA is constructing a Viking port of trade within the community of L'Anse aux Meadows, just two kilometres from the national historic site.

• Norstead will reflect the Viking era. Many of the activities that will be portrayed there did not necessarily take place at L'Anse aux Meadows when the Vikings were here circa 1000 AD.

• At any given time, up to 100 re-enactors from the local area, North America and overseas will demonstrate Viking crafts, navigation, boat building, cooking and other activities.

• L'Anse aux Meadows was declared a national historic site in 1977 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978.

• The Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada declared it to be of national historic significance because:

• It is the first known site established by Vikings in Canada, the earliest evidence of Europeans in North America - approximately 1000 AD;

• It contains physical remains of the Viking presence;

• Geographic features and its strategic location on the Strait of Belle Isle are directly related to the decision by the Vikings to choose this site as their base camp.

• Between 80-100 people lived and worked in the Norse encampment, which included eight buildings: three large halls, a small house, a small hut, two workshops and a hut where iron was made. The buildings were made of timbers and sod cut out of peat beds. The original outlines of their buildings can still be seen. Three of these buildings have been replicated near the original site by Parks Canada so that visitors may better understand this part of our Canadian history.

• Original artefacts uncovered at the site include a bronze cloak pin, a soapstone spindle whirl, scraps from woodworking, large iron boat nails and a piece of a knitting needle made of bone. Slag from the smelting of iron was found around a primitive furnace.