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A number of runestones have been found in Oklahoma. All of them are likely of modern origin, some of them possibly dating to the 19th century "Viking revival" or produced by 19th-century Scandinavian settlers. The oldest find is the "Heavener runestone", first documented in 1923. It is the most credible candidate as being of medieval date, but it is most likely a 19th-century artefact made by a Scandinavian immigrant (possibly a Swede working at the local train depot). Two other "Heavener runestones" are most likely not runic at all but exhibit incisions of Native American origin. Two other runestones, found in Shawnee and Pawnee, respectively, are of modern date. ==Heavener stone== The Heavener runestone is located in Heavener Runestone Park in Le Flore County, Oklahoma near Heavener, Oklahoma. The inscription is in Elder Futhark and reads ''gnomedal'' (either "gnome valley", or a personal name "G. Nomedal"). Archaeologist Ken Feder notes that unlike the situation in eastern Canada where evidence has been found that proves a Norse presence, nothing similar has been found anywhere near Heavener or even in the American Midwest. He suggests that "it is unlikely that the Norse would get significantly more fastidious about leaving any evidence behind of their presence in Oklahoma."〔Kenneth L. Feder, ''Encyclopedia of Dubious Archaeology: From Atlantis To The Walam Olum'', page 137 (Greenwood, 2010). ISBN 978-0-313-37919-2〕 Archaeologist Lyle Tompsen in a 2007 Masters Thesis for the University of Leicester (published in ESOP 29 2011:5-43) examined the rune stone and noted: # There is no cultural evidence of Vikings in or near the region. # No Old Norse approach to translation fits this stone. # The stone's most likely translation is 'Gnome Dal' (Valley of the Gnomes). # Scandinavian presence in the nearby town of Heavener is early and the likeliest source of the carving of the stone. # Other purported rune stones in the region are modern creations, or misinterpreted Native American rock art. "Barring any new evidence, the stone is best considered a modern creation." In 1991, Carl Albert State College in nearby Poteau changed its mascot to a Viking in the stone's honor. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Oklahoma runestones」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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