1899day.year
Helge Ingstad
(1899 - 2001)
Norwegian explorer, lawyer, and politician, 2nd Governor of Svalbard
Norwegian explorer
lawyer
and politician
2nd Governor of Svalbard
Norwegian explorer and politician who co-discovered Viking archaeological sites in North America and served as Governor of Svalbard.
Helge Ingstad graduated as a lawyer but became passionate about exploration and archaeology later in life.
In 1960, alongside his wife Anne Stine Ingstad, he led the team that excavated the Norse settlement at L'Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland.
His work provided the first confirmed evidence of Viking presence in North America centuries before Columbus.
He served as the Governor of Svalbard from 1925 to 1928, overseeing administrative and legal matters in the Arctic territory.
Ingstad authored books on his travels and research, sharing insights into Arctic cultures and history.
His discoveries reshaped understanding of early transatlantic exploration and earned him international recognition.
1899
Helge Ingstad
Governor of Svalbard