fourteenth century (Helgi Þorláksson in Wawn and Þórunn Sigurðardóttir 2001 : 69 ),
and in Erik’s Saga (AM 544 and 557 ). Erik’s Saga (hereafter ES) exists in two versions,
the Skalholt Book (hereafter SB), dated to the mid- to late thirteenth century, and the
Hauk’s Book (hereafter HB), dated to the beginning of the thirteenth century (cf. Gísli
Sigurðsson 2004 : 265 – 302 ).
The Greenlanders’ Saga and Eric’s Saga describe the same events, but with discrepan-
cies. The GS describes four expeditions and a fifth which never reached its goal. The new
lands were accidentally discovered around 985 by the Icelander Bjarni Herjólfsson en
route to his father in Greenland. They were explored a few years later by Leifr Eiríksson,
who established a base there, Leifsbúðir (‘Leif’s Booths’). Here he discovered grapes and
good lumber, which he brought back to Greenland. The explorations were continued by
Leif’s siblings Þórvaldr, Þorsteinn and Freydís, and sister-in-law Guðríðr, with her
husband, the Icelandic trader Þorfinnr Karlsefni.
In ES all four expeditions have been combined into one single expedition as large
as all the others together. The leader of the expedition is Þorfinnr Karlsefni with
his wife Guðríðr. This saga has two major bases, Straumfjo ̨rðr (‘Fjord of Currents’)
and Hóp (‘Estuary Lagoon’). Straumfjo ̨rðr is a base in northern Vinland from which
expeditions leave in the summer to explore in all directions, returning to spend the
winter. Hóp is a summer camp in the south where grapes are collected and lumber
harvested. Straumfjo ̨rðr is described as an attractive place, with tall grass, plenty of
game, and offshore islands so covered with seabirds and eggs that there was hardly room
to set foot. Although the winter proved difficult because no provisions were laid
up and the hunting and fishing failed, it was sufficiently mild for the livestock to go out
all winter.
Hóp was a summer camp at a considerable distance south of Straumfjo ̨rðr. It derived its
name from the many tidal estuary lagoons protected by offshore sandbars. The lagoons
were so shallow that ships could be brought in only during high tide. It was a more
hospitable area than Straumfjo ̨rðr. On the shores there were fields of self-sown wheat, and
forests with mausir wood, wood burls and grapevines climbing trees. However, the area
was inhabited by large groups of native people, and the Norse feared them.
Frequently, Leifsbúðir, Straumfjo ̨rðr and Hóp have been regarded as three separate spots.
Leifsbúðir is, however, likely a combination of Straumfjo ̨rðr and Hóp. Like Straumfjo ̨rðr it is
a base for explorations in several directions, but many of its physical characteristics are
close to those of Hóp, and both grapes and lumber are harvested there.
The Icelandic saga scholar Ólafur Halldórsson has suggested that the purpose of ES
was to magnify Guðríðr’s role to establish antecedents for the canonisation sought
c. 1200 for Bishop Björn Gilsson, a direct descendant of Karlsefni and Guðríðr
(Wawn and Þórunn Sigurðardóttir 2001 : 47 , 50 ). To magnify the importance of
Þorfinnr Karlsefni and Guðríðr, ES reduces Leifr Eiríksson to the accidental discoverer
of Vinland. Karlsefni usurps Leif’s position as leading explorer, combining all the
expeditions of the GS into one mega-expedition led by himself. The name Leifsbúðir is
accordingly erased and replaced with Straumfjo ̨rðr.
PURPOSE OF THE VINLAND SETTLEMENTSIt is often assumed that the purpose of the Vinland settlements was colonisation. In fact,
the chief goal of the Vinland voyages was exploration for resources and exploitation of
–– chapter 44 : The discovery of Vinland––