Viking Sunstone Bibliography, References and Off-site Links to Further Information under construction | For further illumination into the world of the Vikings, I would recommend two papers in addition to those references listed in the bibliography. The first being the very interesting environmental perspective of Dr. Thomas Haine, (pdf file 3.17 MB) of the Earth and Planetary Sciences Department of Johns Hopkins University. The Vikings ventured in many directions, but extensively explored the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions of the North Atlantic over a very long period of time. For many people, the most famous of these voyages would be that which took the long ships to Vinland. For further insight, see paper by the Norwegian, Franck Pettersen, of the Northern Lights Planetarium, Tromsø, Norway. He describes the sagas and archeological evidence of the Viking Sun Compass - different from the mineral as you will read. It references the mineral though notes that the stone may only be accurate to 30 degrees; Karlsen later proved he could use calcite with an accuracy to 1 degree. Thorkild Ramskou found that the use of iolite could be accurate to within 5 degrees. Dyar, M.D. and Gunter, M.E. (2007) Mineralogy and Optical Mineralogy. Mineralogical Society of America, Chantilly,Virginia, 708 pp. Gokstadfunnet: Et 100-års Minne, Sandefjordmuseene Årbok 1979-80. A/S Handelstrykkeriet, Sandefjord, Norway. A detailed account of the Gokstad excavations (in Norwegian). Gunter, M.E. (2003) A lucky break for polarization: The optical properties of calcite." In extraLapis, Calcite, 4, 40-45, East Hampton, CT. Karlsen, Leif K. Secrets of the Viking Navigators. How the Vikings used their amazing sunstones and other techniques to cross the open ocean. To buy the book directly from the publisher visit: One Earth Press . You may also download a nifty free poster from their website. Ramskou, Thorkild, Solstenen, Primitiv Navigation i Norden før Kompasset. Copenhagen: Rhodos, 1969. In Danish. Sjøvold, Thorleif. The Viking Ships in Oslo Universitetets Oldsaksamiling, Oslo, 1985. Overview of the Oseberg and Gokstad ships and their contents housed in the Viking Ship Hall at Bygdøy, Norway. Time Magazine, July 14, 1967 article "Majical Stones of the Sun." A brief accounting of Thorkild Ramskou's revelation about how the Vikings may have used a mineral to navigate with. It includes the connection to SAS Twilight Compass. |
| Internet sites of Interest: The "Oseberg." Part of a site by Jørn Olav Løset - see other ships in his Viking ship index. The "Gaia" Homepage. (be sure to click on all the photos!) |
Uh Oh! I'm not sure how you got here either, |