# When was the inscription carved? · Kensington Runestone > Three answers have been proposed. The inscription was carved in Minnesota between about 1885 and 1898. leads, with evidence 3 for: supported by its… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/kensington-runestone/questions/QST0CT1HTVA12MW/when-was-the-inscription-carved Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:57:47+00:00 --- **0** # When was the inscription carved? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·3 answers·0·0 following **Answered: The inscription was carved in Minnesota between about 1885 and 1898.** Passed its tests and review. ## Where it stands Three answers have been proposed. The inscription was carved in Minnesota between about 1885 and 1898. leads, with evidence 3 for: supported by its tests. Two are still possible. Of the two narrower questions under it, none is answered yet. ## Why it matters A date of 1362 would make it the oldest European document in North America; a date in the 1880s or 1890s makes it a modern creation. Linguistic, runological and weathering evidence point different ways in the public debate⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CT1HJSG7AXP/the-kensington-stone-a-mystery-solved)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CT1HMG61YZV/being-hoaxed-by-claims-of-hoaxes-comment-on-stroth). ## Answers 3 [**The inscription was carved in Minnesota between about 1885 and 1898.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/kensington-runestone/answers/ANS0CT1HX1M2PGN/the-inscription-was-carved-in-minnesota-between-about-1885) Supported by its tests Evidence: 3 for Most likely [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/kensington-runestone/answers/ANS0CT1HY0W6Z4W/none-of-these) Failed a test; not refuted outright Evidence: none yet Disputed [**The inscription was carved in 1362 by members of a Norse expedition, as it says.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/kensington-runestone/answers/ANS0CT1HVTJ47JR/the-inscription-was-carved-in-1362-by-members-of-a-norse) Failed a test; not refuted outright Evidence: 2 for, 2 against Disputed ## History 1. 1910[Flom puts forward: the inscription was carved in Minnesota between about 1885 and 1898.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CT1HJ9W5C9J/the-kensington-rune-stone-a-modern-inscription-from-douglas) 1. 1910[Flom: linguists from 1910 onward found the language modern.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CT1HJ9W5C9J/the-kensington-rune-stone-a-modern-inscription-from-douglas)Against: The inscription was carved in 1362 by members of a Norse expedition, as it says. 1. 1910[Minnesota Historical Society. Museum Committee: the 1910 committee itself said five abbreviated verb forms would mark it a forgery unless explained for 1362.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CT1HJ2265YE/the-kensington-rune-stone-preliminary-report-to-the)For: The inscription was carved in Minnesota between about 1885 and 1898. 1. 1919[Holand puts forward: the inscription was carved in 1362 by members of a Norse expedition, as it says.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CT1HJHP5BDF/the-kensington-rune-stone-the-oldest-native-document-of) 1. 2019[Artec 3D: runes cut in calcite are about 25 per cent shallower than those in greywacke, which a presenter read as about…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CT1HM0J42C2/kensington-runestone-3d-scan)For: The inscription was carved in Minnesota between about 1885 and 1898. 1. 2022[Colavito: the stone's runes and pentadic numerals match an alphabet printed in Sweden in 1876.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CT1HM8C07C9/new-evidence-points-to-a-19th-century-origin-for-kensington)Against: The inscription was carved in 1362 by members of a Norse expedition, as it says. 1. 2022[Colavito: the Kensington runes belong to a younger variant of an 1876 rune row than the one still used in 1885.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CT1HM8C07C9/new-evidence-points-to-a-19th-century-origin-for-kensington)For: The inscription was carved in Minnesota between about 1885 and 1898. 1. 2025[Kehoe: kehoe cites microscope evidence of weathered incision edges and a fourteenth-century Bohuslän dialect.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CT1HMG61YZV/being-hoaxed-by-claims-of-hoaxes-comment-on-stroth)For: The inscription was carved in 1362 by members of a Norse expedition, as it says. 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/kensington-runestone/questions/QST0CT1HTVA12MW/when-was-the-inscription-carved%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/kensington-runestone/questions/QST0CT1HTVA12MW/when-was-the-inscription-carved%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/kensington-runestone/questions/QST0CT1HTVA12MW/when-was-the-inscription-carved%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/kensington-runestone/questions/QST0CT1HTVA12MW/when-was-the-inscription-carved%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/kensington-runestone/questions/QST0CT1HTVA12MW/when-was-the-inscription-carved%23add-source) Where it fits Kensington Runestone **When was the inscription carved?** Key question · you're here [Does the weathering of the grooves show the inscription is old?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/kensington-runestone/questions/QST0CT1HVAY1BW1/does-the-weathering-of-the-grooves-show-the-inscription-is)Most likely · without a calibrated rate for this rock and setting, the weathering cannot date the carving [Where do the Kensington rune forms and numerals come from?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/kensington-runestone/questions/QST0CT1HV342PKD/where-do-the-kensington-rune-forms-and-numerals-come-from)Most likely · the forms come from the rune row in Eric Ström's 1876 textbook as transmitted among Swedish rune writers [ Ask a question under this one ]