In the early 20th century somebody intent on bolstering the case for Norse charting and exploration of North America created a fake map that became known as the Vinland Map. The Vinland map was claimed to be a 15th century Norse map that clearly shows North America.
And it was a fake. Evidence that it was a fake has been long available since it contains a chemical — anatase — in the ink that could not have been synthesized until the 20th century.
Now a study published in Analytical Chemistry has put the nail in the coffin on map’s inauthenticity.
Like many old maps, the Vinland Map is done in black ink and the lines are surrounded by yellowish lines. In an authentic map, the yellowing is caused by iron compounds in the ink.
In hoaxed maps such as the Vinland Map, however, the ink used is modern and lacks those iron compounds. And, of course, it was made recently, so the forger draws in a yellow line. It turns out the anatase on the Vinland Map only occurs in the yellow lines. Somebody drew the lines in to make it appear to be old.
The map’s a fraud.
Source:
The Vinland Map shows its true colors; scientists say it’s a confirmed forgery. American Chemical Society, July 29, 2002.