| Part ofa series on the |
| Norse colonization of North America |
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 Leiv Eirikson Discovering America, 1893 painting byChristian Krohg |
Alleged artifacts |
Snæbjörn galti Hólmsteinsson (Modern Icelandic:[ˈstnaiːˌpjœ(r)tn̥ˈkal̥tɪˈhoulmˌsteinsˌsɔːn];Old Norse:Snæbjǫrn galti Hólmsteinsson[ˈsnɛːˌbjɔrnˈɡɑlteˈhoːlmˌstɛinsˌson]; c. 910 – c. 978) was the firstNorseman to intentionally navigate toGreenland, doing so in 978 CE.[1][2]
His voyage followed the accidental discovery of lands west ofIceland byGunnbjörn Ulfsson, probably in the early 10th century. According to records from the time, Galte led the first attempt to colonize the eastern coast of Greenland. However his effort ended with disaster and he was killed in internal strife byÞorbjorn Glaum another Icelandic settler who was in a feud with Snæbjörn galti over disputes of land, resources or personal grievances.There had been a saga written about the voyage of Snæbjörn, but it has been lost over time.[3] if Greenland is part of North America that would make Snæbjörn galti the first European to die in the Americas.
Erik the Red would become the firstpermanentEuropean settler of Greenland in 982. According to theSaga of Erik the Red, he spent his three years exploring the west coast of Greenland. Apparently he planned his journey much better and probably was luckier with the weather as well as maintaining better control of his crew.[4][5]