Archeologist who unravelled the story of North America's only Viking site has died
Birgitta Wallace is shown in this handout photo sitting on a bucket at L'Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland in 1976. The celebrated Swedish-Canadian archeologist was known for her work unravelling the story of the Vikings at L'Anse aux Meadows, which is the only acknowledged Norse site in North America. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO
ST. JOHN'S — A celebrated Swedish-Canadian archeologist who helped unravel the story of the Vikings at the only acknowledged Norse site in North America has died.
Birgitta Wallace Ferguson discovered evidence that Leif Eriksson's Vinland was briefly established at L'Anse aux Meadows, at the tip of Newfoundland's Great Northern Peninsula.
Robert Ferguson, her husband and fellow archeologist, says she was passionately devoted to her work and the L'Anse aux Meadows site, where she felt a deep connection with the local community.
He says the day before she died, she was in her hospital bed dictating comments to him about a paper she was co-authoring about the site.
Adjunct archeology professor Shannon Lewis-Simpson says though Wallace Ferguson was a titan in her field, she was known for being modest, kind and generous with her time and expertise.
Wallace died last week in Halifax while in hospital. She was 91.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 28, 2025.
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