In several old churches on the Scandinavian island of Gotland, Wolter found rune symbols known to be from medieval times that matched the rune symbols on the Kensington stone that critics had argued were too modern.

Wolter said the geologic evidence of the stone’s authenticity is now buttressed by the new runology evidence. But, said Wolter, more than a century’s worth of criticism of the stone by several scholars makes it difficult to change minds easily or quickly.

A fact, he said, that is preventing Minnesota from embracing a major artifact that changes the very history of who discovered America and when.

Wolter has written a book on his findings: “The Kensington Rune Stone, Compelling New Evidence. (www.kensingtonrunestone.com).