In the fall of 2018, in a forest near the town of Wawa, Northern Ontario, Canada, a local historian discovered an unusual archaeological find under a fallen tree – runic carvings on a rock. The inscription consists of 255 runes arranged in a rectangular pattern, as well as an image of a boat with 16 figures, surrounded by 14 "X" symbols. This is the longest runic inscription known in North America.
The research is being conducted by archaeologists David Gadzała and Ryan Primrose from the Ontario Centre for Archaeological Education (OCARE). The runic symbols have been identified as the Futhark alphabet, an ancient form of writing from Scandinavia. To ensure accurate interpretation, Professor Henrik Williams, a leading runologist from Uppsala University, Sweden, has been consulted.
Analysis revealed that the text is the Lord's Prayer in a Swedish runic version from the 17th century, re-edited in the 19th century. Researchers believe the stone was created in the early to mid-19th century, likely by a Swedish worker of the Hudson's Bay Company, which hired Scandinavians for trading posts in Canada.
The mystery remains as to why this particular place was chosen for the inscription and why it ended up hidden underground. Primrose suggests the stone may have been used for religious purposes – perhaps an act of faith by a devout person who intentionally buried it.
Currently, the possibility of preserving the runic stone as a historical monument is being considered. Plans include installing a protective shelter to safeguard it from damage and, in the future, opening it to visitors, allowing the general public to become acquainted with this unique historical artifact.