30 September 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

The Lord’s Prayer Carved in Stone with Scandinavian Runes and a Picture of a Boat Discovered in Ontario, Canada

Hidden deep in the northern Ontario wilderness, an extraordinary archeological discovery has puzzled researchers and captured the imagination of history enthusiasts. A fallen tree near the town of Wawa uncovered a mysterious rock carving that has now been identified as the longest runic inscription in North America — and the only one known worldwide to contain the full Lord’s Prayer.

Roughly seven years ago, a fallen tree near exposed a remarkable carving etched into the bedrock: 255 runic symbols arranged in a rectangular shape, measuring about 1.2 by 1.5 metres. Accompanying the runes was a detailed depiction of a boat carrying 16 figures, along with 14 “X” marks carved beside it.

The photos reached Ryan Primrose, President, and David Gadzala, Vice President, of the Ontario Centre for Archaeological Education. Following the discovery, Primrose and Gadzala initiated a systematic study of the site, marking the beginning of their multi-year research effort.

In an interview with CBC’s Erik White, Primrose shared his astonishment:

“It’s certainly among the least expected discoveries of my career. It’s absolutely fascinating.”



📣 Our WhatsApp channel is now LIVE! Stay up-to-date with the latest news and updates, just click here to follow us on WhatsApp and never miss a thing!!



He has been studying the carvings since 2018 but chose to keep the discovery under wraps until he and his team could better understand its origins.

“We didn’t want to release anything publicly until we had done as much analysis as possible,” he explained to CBC’s Erik White.

David Gadzala and Ryan Primrose, directors of the Ontario Centre for Archeological Education (left to right), have been studying a Nordic runestone carved into the bedrock near Wawa, Northern Ontario, for seven years—photo courtesy of Ryan Primrose.
David Gadzala and Ryan Primrose, directors of the Ontario Centre for Archeological Education (left to right), have been studying a Nordic runestone carved into the bedrock near Wawa, Northern Ontario, for seven years—photo courtesy of Ryan Primrose.

Ancient Symbols, Modern Mystery

Primrose soon identified the characters as Nordic runes from the Futhark alphabet, used in Scandinavia for centuries. Concerned the discovery might be misinterpreted as a Viking relic, Primrose reached out to Dr. Henrik Williams, an internationally renowned runologist and emeritus professor at Uppsala University in Sweden.

Dr. Williams traveled to the site on a cold, rainy October day to examine the carvings in person.

“I was under a tarpaulin for three hours with a flashlight, looking at the runes while others were freezing outside,” he told CBC. “And I came out with this reading.”

In 2019, OCARE arranged a follow-up visit that brought Dr. Williams back to the site — this time with Loraine Jensen, President of the American Association for Runic Studies, as well as local historians and OCARE team members. During that October investigation, the group confirmed the authenticity of the runes: they were neither Viking-era nor a modern hoax.

Dr. Williams concluded the runes represent a Swedish-language version of the Lord’s Prayer, carved using a variation of the runic system developed by Johannes Bureus in the early 1600s. The wording closely matches the version of the prayer that was widely used in Sweden beginning in the 16th century.


The 250 runic characters carved into the rock spell out the Lord’s Prayer. Believed to have been carved in the early 1800s and later buried, it was uncovered when a tree fell in 2018. Photo courtesy of Ryan Primrose
The 250 runic characters carved into the rock spell out the Lord’s Prayer. Believed to have been carved in the early 1800s and later buried, it was uncovered when a tree fell in 2018. Photo courtesy of Ryan Primrose

In his official report, Williams underscored the rarity and historical significance of the find:

“Canada now has a total of eleven objects claimed to bear runes, but only five in fact do so, and three of those constitute modern commemorative inscriptions: the Gimli stone, the L’Anse aux Meadow stone (both in English), and the Vanier Park stone (probably in imitation Old Norse). There is a partial copy of a Swedish runic carving at Mahone Bay. The Wawa stone is Ontario’s first with actual runes, the longest runic inscription of any on the North American continent, and the only one in the world reproducing the Lord’s Prayer.”

“They are deeply carved—it must have taken someone days, maybe weeks. This was likely a Swede. But were there any Swedes here?”

A Swedish Connection

According to Primrose, historical records confirm that the Hudson’s Bay Company employed Swedish workers in the 1800s at trading posts throughout the Canadian wilderness, including the Michipicoten post, not far from the discovery site.

Based on the wear of the engraving and supporting documentation, Primrose’s current theory is that the carving was made in the early to mid-1800s.

While Williams expressed mild disappointment that the carving is only about 200 years old, he emphasized that the age doesn’t diminish the intrigue.

Next to the Lord’s Prayer carving is an image of a boat carrying 16 people, accompanied by 14 carved X marks. Photo courtesy of Ryan Primrose
Next to the Lord’s Prayer carving is an image of a boat carrying 16 people, accompanied by 14 carved X marks. Photo courtesy of Ryan Primrose

“The mystery doesn’t fade just because it’s younger than we hoped. Why was it carved here? Why this text? There are no answers. And mysteries always draw people in.”

Spiritual Site or Solitary Prayer?

Primrose speculates that the site could have served as a religious gathering place for Swedish traders or perhaps was the solitary devotional work of one individual. The carving was discovered under several inches of soil, possibly intentionally buried. No other artifacts were found nearby, leaving researchers with more questions than answers.

Working with the landowner, Primrose has applied for a leasehold and is actively seeking funding to turn the location into a heritage tourism site. Plans include a protective structure over the carving to preserve it for future generations.

He hopes to finalize development plans by the end of the summer and eventually open the site to the public—offering visitors a rare glimpse into a forgotten corner of 19th-century history, etched in stone and shrouded in mystery.

Ontario Centre for Archaeological Education (OCARE)

Cover Image Credit: Wawa Runestone. Photo courtesy of Ryan Primrose

Related Articles

Lost Egyptian City Unveils Ancient Tower Houses: A Glimpse into Early Urban Innovation

15 July 2025

15 July 2025

A recent archaeological excavation in Egypt’s Nile Delta has uncovered the remains of a long-lost city featuring rare and substantial...

A Rare Bilingual Inscription Discovered in Saudi Arabia’s Tabuk Province

28 June 2024

28 June 2024

Saudi Arabia’s Heritage Commission announced the discovery of a rare bilingual inscription in the village of Alqan in the Tabuk...

A 2,000-year-old Roman sewage system has been discovered in western Turkey

19 September 2021

19 September 2021

The archaeological excavations carried out in the ancient city of Tripolis in the western province of Denizli’s Buldan district have...

Unique Roman Cavalry Parade Helmet Recreated

6 April 2024

6 April 2024

Two replicas have been created of the gilded silver unique Roman cavalry helmet that amateur archaeologists found in 2001 while...

Centuries-old burials discovered near Antandros Ancient City in Turkey

10 January 2022

10 January 2022

Ancient tombs were discovered during a foundation excavation at a building site near the ancient city of Antandros, which is...

Rare Hittite bracelet, 3300 years old, found by a farmer

28 March 2022

28 March 2022

A farmer in Turkey’s Çorum province discovered a rare 3,300-year-old ancient bracelet from the Hittite era while plowing his farm....

11,000-Year-Old LSU Campus Mounds Are Oldest Known Human-Made Structures In North America

23 August 2022

23 August 2022

According to new research published in the American Journal of Science, two six-meter (20-foot) high mounds on the campus of...

1500-year-old Stunning Pendant Amulet Depicting the Prophet Solomon Spearing the Devil on Horseback Found in Türkiye

15 November 2024

15 November 2024

During the excavations in the ancient city of Hadrianopolis in Eskipazar district of Karabük, Türkiye, an amulet from the 5th...

Ukrainian Stonehenge

6 July 2021

6 July 2021

It has almost become a tradition to compare the structures surrounded by stones to the Stonehenge monument. This ancient cemetery,...

Remains of Norman Stone Tower Defending Chichester Castle Discovered

5 June 2025

5 June 2025

A remarkable archaeological excavation in Chichester’s historic Priory Park has uncovered the remains of a Norman-era stone tower, known as...

Archaeologists identified the first known tomb of a Warrior Woman with weapons in Hungary

5 January 2025

5 January 2025

A team of archaeologists led by Balázs Tihanyi of the Department of Biological Anthropology and the Department of Archaeology at...

The oldest ceramic roof tiles ever found in land of Israel may be from Antiochus’ Lost Citadel in Jerusalem

6 December 2023

6 December 2023

The 16 ceramic roof tile fragments, from the Hellenistic period in the second century BCE, were discovered during an archaeological...

Ancient Babylon Excavation Uncovers 478 Artifacts Including Cuneiform Tablets, and Cylindrical Seals

16 October 2024

16 October 2024

The Iraqi State Board of Antiquities and Heritage (SBAH) announced that 478 artifacts were uncovered during an excavation expedition in...

Fossil of a hominid child who died almost 250,000 years ago discovered in South Africa

8 November 2021

8 November 2021

A team of international and South African researchers uncovered the fossil remains of an early hominid kid who died almost...

On the eastern shore of the Marmara Sea, off the coast of Yalova, a 1700-year-old Shipwreck was discovered

23 August 2023

23 August 2023

A 1700-year-old shipwreck was discovered during maritime police training dives in the province of Yalova, located on the east coast...