Helge Ingstad was a Norwegian explorer, archaeologist, and author who is best known for his discovery of the Viking settlement at L'Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland, Canada. He was born in 1877 in the small town of Tromsų, Norway, and was the son of a Lutheran minister. He was educated at the University of Oslo, where he studied law and economics. After graduating, he worked as a lawyer for a few years before deciding to pursue his true passion of exploration and discovery.
In 1906, Ingstad set out on his first expedition, traveling to the Arctic Circle in search of the lost Viking settlements of Greenland. He spent the next two years exploring the area, and in 1908 he made a remarkable discovery: the remains of a Viking settlement at L'Anse aux Meadows. This was the first evidence of Viking presence in North America, and it was a major breakthrough in the field of archaeology.
Ingstad continued to explore the area, and in 1910 he published his first book, The Land of the Norsemen. This book detailed his discoveries and theories about the Viking settlements in North America. He also wrote several other books about his explorations, including The Discovery of a Norse Settlement in America (1912) and The Norse Discovery of America (1913).
In the 1920s, Ingstad began to focus his attention on the exploration of the interior of Canada. He traveled to the Yukon and Northwest Territories, and in 1925 he discovered the remains of a Viking settlement at Tanfield Valley. This was the first evidence of Viking presence in the interior of Canada, and it was a major breakthrough in the field of archaeology.
In the 1930s, Ingstad continued his explorations in Canada, and in 1938 he discovered the remains of a Viking settlement at Point Rosee in Newfoundland. This was the first evidence of Viking presence in the eastern part of Canada, and it was a major breakthrough in the field of archaeology.
In the 1940s, Ingstad returned to Norway and continued to write about his explorations. He wrote several books about his discoveries, including The Viking Discovery of America (1941) and The Norsemen in America (1944). He also wrote several books about the history of Norway, including The History of Norway (1947) and The Viking Age in Norway (1951).
Ingstad died in 2001 at the age of 103. He was a pioneer in the field of exploration and archaeology, and his discoveries have had a lasting impact on our understanding of the Viking Age. He is remembered as one of the most important figures in the history of exploration and archaeology, and his legacy will continue to inspire future generations of explorers.