Vikings Missed the Boat

It seems that the Faroe Islands, held as some of the most breathtaking scenic islands on planet Earth were not first colonized by the Vikings, but by an unknown group of people some 500 years previous to the first Viking colonizers in the 10th century or thereabouts.

Finds on the islands show that the settlers definately harvested and prepared peat for daily use. Barley grain found in the peat ash (peat is used to burn for warmth/cooking etc) shows that the settlers stayed for some time.

The research postulates that the island was widely settled and the settlements more than likely wiped out by the Vikings. I'm not sure how widespread the use of peat was according to the article read, so it is impossible to determine the longevity of the settlement or its size. Viking records do not report the islands as occupied, but the Vikings left few written records of their island hoping.

All very interesting. Read on.