Inuit figurine: A 700-year-old Indigenous carving of a European made a century before Columbus
This Inuit carving was made a century before Columbus set foot in the Americas and likely depicts a Norseman.
An Inuit figurine discovered in 1977 on Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada, has been dated to around AD 1350, making it the earliest depiction of a European in the Western Hemisphere. Carved from wood, the 2.1-inch tall figurine features a person wearing European clothing and a cross on their chest, likely representing a Norseman. This unique carving, currently displayed at the Canadian Museum of History, provides insight into the Indigenous perspective of early European contact with the Inuit, predating sustained contact in the late 15th century.
Written by urgent.news from Live Science's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
- 'It could have been a very different history': Researchers are finally starting to pin down how many Indigenous people were living in the Americas when Columbus arrived livescience.com
- 'It could have been a very different history': Researchers are finally starting to pin down how many Indigenous people were living in the Americas when Columbus arrived r.smartbrief.com
