Hooked X Marks the Spot: The Kensington Rune Stone and The Templars

I found it funny that today we talked about the Kensington Rune Stone and the finding of america, because just before the semester started i watched a History Channel show called The Holy Grail in America. Now, obviously most of the 90 minute program was about the Holy Grail, but a decent chunk of the show focused on the Knights Templar fleeing europe with the Holy Grail and bringing it to northern america over 100 years before columbus made his “discovery”. One of the major pieces of evidence used to denote templar presance in america came from the kensington rune stone, specifically the hooked X that was present on the stone tablet(shown below).Now supposedly its the hook on the top right ‘arm’ of the X that makes it unique to the Templars, though many people still believe the templars didnt even exist so, this is arguable, but on the other end of the stick, according to the history channel the hook in the X is not seen in any other Nordic/Viking carvings found yet(side note: supposedly some of these Templars were Nordic in origin, including Henry Sinclair) .Throughout the episode many more stone are found all with the hooked X and all giving direction to another location where artifacts were found, a breadcrumb trail as the history channel calls it.

On the topic of being in america there is plenty more “evidence” left to discuss. The main piece of which is a fancy 8 legged tower with some convincingly impressive geometrical and astronomical features. Supposedly on the winter solstice a box of light comes through an opening, thus illuminating a keystone at the top of an archway.  From there if you plot a straight line through the middle of the tower and through the keystones present on the building that line eventually (1500 miles worth) reaches Kensington Minnesota. Supposedly all to remind them of the placement of the Rune Stone… why? history channel suggests the stone is a land claim.

I personally find the evidence presented throughout the show, convincing enough to look into in a physical manner (visiting and seeing for myself etc), and for that matter find this to be one of the more believable or at least physical evidence packed shows the history channel has done. Along with the ‘evidence’ provided,  my dislike for large systems such as governments and organized religions, pushes me to hold a stronger belief in these possibilities, though i doubt the Holy Grail that Henry Sinclair and followers possessed was anything more than lots of treasure.

Again, feel free to argue, the show is availible on youtube in 10 minute segments, i left out a great deal of what was mentioned, but my purposes have been served for this class.

Holy Grail in America Part 1: