Amateur historian proves '15th century map' that showed Vikings discovered America before Columbus is a fake

It was hailed as the first proof of Viking exploration to the America and the earliest known map of the New World. Moreover, the Vinland Map was used by some to claim that the Vikings had discovered America 50 years before Christopher Columbus.

Now a Scottish independent researcher has used simple Google searches to investigate the map and claims to have uncovered new proof that suggests it is an elaborate fraud.

John Paul Floyd, 43, from Glasgow, says the controversial map that has divided experts since it was uncovered in 1957, was forged and drawn on a 15th Century parchment.

He claims the genuine parchment was stolen and the map drawn on its back was a fake.

The map emerged on the international book market in the 1950s bound within two medieval documents, the Tartar Relation and the Speculum Histioriale.

According to Mr Floyd's research, the documents were ironically put on display in 1892 at an event commemorating Columbus but no record of the map exists.

He believes this is because it was not drawn until decades later. The Vinland Map was verified in 1965 by experts from Yale University and the British Museum, who said it dated from about 1440.

It depicted exploration of the east coast of the U.S., including Hudson Bay, Labrador and the Gulf of St Lawrence in Canada.
However, its authenticity was immediately suspected by other academics who questioned where this hugely important historical document had lain hidden for so long.

Mr Floyd said its display at the Columbus exhibition in Madrid is a 'remarkable twist'.