L'Anse aux Meadows was the first European settlement in the Americas. Around 985, a Viking merchant ship on its way to Greenland was blown off course and reported new lands to the west. Fifteen years later, Leif Eiriksson became the first European in the Americas when he founded a settlement called Straumfiord near L'Anse aux Meadows. In the following years, the Vikings visited the colony and explored as far as New Brunswick.
Unfortunately, although the Vikings made several more voyages, they would abandon their colony. Thorvald Eiriksson explored Newfoundland and discovered the Gulf of St. Lawrence, but was killed by a Skræling arrow. The Karlsefnis, led by Thorfinn Karlsefni, attempted to make friendly relations with the Indians, but the Skrælings were no better. There were no warriors and the colony was abandoned. A fourth voyage led by Freydis Eiriksson and two of her brothers failed when they fought among themselves.
In 1960, a team led by Helge and Anne Ingstad located the ruins of Straumfiord by following the Vinland (the Viking name for America) sagas. The Ingstads discovered the site when they noticed some mounds that they suspected to be the remains of Viking buildings. Although they were told that the mounds were Indian graves, they made exploratory digs and discovered a fireplace and a cooking pit similar to the ones used by Icelandic Vikings. On one side of the pit was an ember pit, used to keep coals burning through the night so that starting breakfast would be easy.
Over the following years, eight buildings and hundreds of artifacts were discovered, including a smithy (blacksmith shop), a bronze pin (used to fasten clothes), and a stone lamp. The natives had no such technology. Another find was a spindle whorl, used to make wool. It was found with a whetstone, a pair of scissors, and several bone needles. The Vikings were the closest civilization with this technology. This was proof that there was a Viking settlement at L'Anse aux Meadows beyond doubt. Other buildings discovered included a longhouse, a carpenter's shop, and a drydock.
