Wawa Runestone
In autumn of 2018, OCARE was contacted by a local Wawa historian about a potential rock carving (petroglyph). Initial research and a site visit was carried out in October of 2018 which tentatively confirmed that the carving was an inscription and likely was written in futhark characters (a runic script which was used in northern Europe and Scandinavia). Near the inscription is a second carving of a boat resembling a Viking longboat containing about 16 occupants and flanked by several crosses or stars. OCARE contacted an epigrapher from Finland who referred us to a runologist from the University of Uppsala, Sweden, named Henrik Williams.
In 2019, arrangements were made by OCARE to have Dr. Williams and Loraine Jensen (President of the American Association for Runic Studies) visit the site with members of OCARE and the local Wawa historian. During the October visit, it was confirmed that the inscription was indeed a runic inscription, but was not Viking in nature, nor was it a hoax. According to Dr. Williams, the deeply carved runes represent a Swedish-language version of the Lord’s Prayer. The text conforms to the Swedish version of the Lord’s Prayer used from the 16th century and is written using a variation of the runic translation developed by Johannes Bureus in the early 17th century. To quote Dr. Williams’ report, “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,” (Williams 2019:5).
Based on the information available at this time, the date of the inscription remains unconfirmed but may date to the 19th century, although a later or even earlier dating is also possible. Additional work is required to establish when the carving was done and by whom. This additional work will form part of a peer-reviewed article to be published in an academic journal.
Overall, the Wawa Runestone is considered to be of national interest, and even international interest. Upon disclosure to the public, this site will serve as an historical landmark with substantial tourist value. As such, the site should be protected and preserved for future generations.