Archaeologists Decode 19th-Century Swedish Runestone in Ontario Wilderness

Archaeologists have deciphered a mysterious runestone carved into bedrock near Wawa in Northern Ontario, revealing 255 Nordic runes that spell out The Lord’s Prayer in an old Swedish version dating to 1611. The inscription, accompanied by an image of a boat with 16 figures and 14 Xs, was first uncovered in 2018 after a fallen tree exposed the rock. Researchers, including Ryan Primrose from the Ontario Centre for Archaeological Education and runologist Henrik Williams from Uppsala University, concluded that the carvings likely date from the 19th century rather than the Viking era, coinciding with when the Hudson’s Bay Company employed Swedish workers at Canadian trading posts. The site is believed to have served as a place of worship for these Swedish laborers, though the exact reason behind the labor-intensive inscription remains unclear. The discovery provides a rare glimpse into Scandinavian cultural and religious presence in Canada’s wilderness during that period. Despite the historical insight, the motivations for carving such a detailed prayer in this remote location continue to puzzle researchers.