A mysterious stone slab engraved with Nordic runes has been uncovered deep in the Canadian wilderness, puzzling archaeologists who made the discovery.
Discovered 465 miles northwest of Ottawa near the town of Wawa, Ontario, this massive engraved rock contains 255 Nordic symbols from the Futhark, the oldest runic alphabet, forming a full rendition of the Lord’s Prayer.
The four-by-five-foot rock section also features a carved boat, 16 additional runic signs, and 14 X-shaped markings.
Discovered by accident, the CBC reported on June 16 that the inscription remained hidden beneath forest soil for centuries until a tree fell during a storm, exposing the mysterious carvings. Photos of the slab eventually made their way to Ryan Primrose, president of the Ontario Center for Archaeological Education (OCAE), who immediately recognized the significance of this ancient find.
“It’s certainly among the least expected discoveries of my career,” Primrose told the CBC. “It’s absolutely fascinating.”
Despite its very close resemblance to Viking-age inscriptions, Primrose urged caution and the importance of comprehensive research rather than drawing conclusions right away. While Norse explorers are known to have reached parts of Canada around 1000 CE, the message’s religious content could indicate a more recent origin.
Reviewing the discovery and seeking a second opinion, Primrose connected with one of the world’s leading runologists, Professor Henrik Williams of Uppsala University in Sweden, to investigate further. In October, Williams visited the site and spent hours under a tarp, flashlight in hand, meticulously analyzing each rune.
After many long hours of research, Primrose concluded that the symbols were indeed written in Futhark, a script used by Germanic peoples from the 2nd to 8th centuries CE. However, the language and phrasing revealed it to be a later adaptation, likely inspired by a 1611 Swedish translation of the Lord’s Prayer by polymath Johannes Bureus.
“We didn’t want to release anything publicly until we had done as much analysis as possible,” says Primrose.
A new theory was then put forward to explain the findings: during the 19th century, the Hudson’s Bay Company employed Swedish laborers across various trading posts in Canada. One or more of these workers could have carved the prayer on the rock face. When looking at the craftsmanship, researchers feel someone with knowledge of the runic alphabet and Christian theology could indeed have created the work. Could it have been an act of devotion during a time of isolation?
“This must have been a Swede,” suggested Primrose.
But why this location, and why so much effort?
Another interesting fact is that no other artifacts have been found nearby, and the stone was hidden and buried under several inches of soil, suggesting it might even have been purposely concealed.
OCAE is now working with local landowners to secure a lease and preserve the site. For locals in the area, along with fellow Canadians and tourists interested in archaeology, plans are in motion to build a protective structure and turn the area into a public heritage site.
Though the slab may only be a couple of centuries old, its purpose and origins still remain mysterious for Primrose.
“The mystery doesn’t fade just because it’s younger than we hoped,” said Primrose. “Mysteries like this always draw people in.”
Chrissy Newton is a PR professional and founder of VOCAB Communications. She currently appears on The Discovery Channel and Max and hosts the Rebelliously Curious podcast, which can be found on YouTube and on all audio podcast streaming platforms. Follow her on X: @ChrissyNewton, Instagram: @BeingChrissyNewton, and chrissynewton.com.