This is
satellite imagery of Point Rosee in southwestern Newfoundland, a site
discovered by Sarah Parcak using remote sensing. She identified it as an area
of interest due to the discoloration and the rectilinear and circular, L-shaped
features that can be made out in the image suggesting man-made structures reminiscent
of Norse (Viking) culture. This was a research/documentary collaboration (Vikings
Unearthed) with BBC and several other television stations to use satellite
imagery to look for potential Norse sites south of the only known settlement in
North America (L'Anse aux Meadows). The darker areas of the image indicated the
possibility of turf structures under the surface because this would affect the growth
of vegetation (infrared sensing of vegetation). An exploratory dig was
conducted in 2015 and the results lead to a 2016 excavation season. What I
found interesting about this was how this research was portrayed in the media.
It began as a documentary project, so it already started out with bias. The
initial findings seemed to be sensationalized in a lot of media outlets making
Point Rosee appear as a newly discovered Norse Settlement but just waiting on
further confirmation with further excavation. But in reality, there were
initial findings that showed potential and a second dig was led in 2016
resulting with inconclusive evidence, and with some of the initial findings found
to more likely be a result of natural processes. The site requires further
analysis and excavation; there are a number of possibilities but there may
never be conclusive evidence to determine if Point Rosee was a settlement, a
work camp, a stopover, etc. But this does not make for exciting news. I also found there were several contradictory
statements about the site amongst different articles such as Point Rosee being
a bad location for the Vikings versus it being an ideal location. There seemed
to be a lot of misleading and bias present which I would expect when science is
purposed for popular culture consumption. It was difficult to get an overview
of what actually was happening with this site and what the results were. I had
to go through tens of news outlets and videos. However a huge takeaway was the
methodology of using satellite imagery to identify possible archeological
sites.
1).
- View From Space Hints at a New Viking Site in North America
- Point Rosee A Norse Settlement Site?
- Possible Viking Find Could Rewrite North American History
- Discovery Could Rewrite History of Vikings in New World
- An ancient site spotted from space could rewrite the history of Vikings in North America
- Vikings Unearthed | Netflix
- BBC uncovers new find that may be first Viking site discovered in North America in 55 years, in co-production with PBS science series NOVA
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