Sunstone (medieval) (nonfiction): Difference between revisions

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The '''sunstone''' (Icelandic: '''sólarsteinn''') is a type of mineral attested in several 13th–14th century written sources in Iceland, one of which describes its use to locate the sun in a completely overcast sky.
The '''sunstone''' (Icelandic: ''sólarsteinn'') is a type of mineral attested in several 13th–14th century written sources in Iceland, one of which describes its use to locate the sun in a completely overcast sky.
 
== Description ==


Sunstones are also mentioned in the inventories of several churches and one monastery in 14th–15th century Iceland.
Sunstones are also mentioned in the inventories of several churches and one monastery in 14th–15th century Iceland.
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A stone found in 2013 off Alderney, in the wreck of a 16th-century warship, may lend evidence of the existence of sunstones as navigational devices.
A stone found in 2013 off Alderney, in the wreck of a 16th-century warship, may lend evidence of the existence of sunstones as navigational devices.
== In the News ==
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== Fiction cross-reference ==
* [[Rulestone (medieval)]]


== Nonfiction cross-reference ==
== Nonfiction cross-reference ==
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* [[Sunstone (nonfiction)]]
* [[Sunstone (nonfiction)]]


== Fiction cross-reference ==
External links:
 
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunstone_(medieval) Sunstone (medieval)] @ Wikipedia
* [http://www.atoptics.co.uk/fz767.htm Viking Sun Stone] @ Atmospheric Optics


* [[Rulestone (medieval)]]
[[Category:Nonfiction (nonfiction)]]
[[Category:Minerals (nonfiction)]]

Latest revision as of 19:23, 24 June 2016

The sunstone (Icelandic: sólarsteinn) is a type of mineral attested in several 13th–14th century written sources in Iceland, one of which describes its use to locate the sun in a completely overcast sky.

Sunstones are also mentioned in the inventories of several churches and one monastery in 14th–15th century Iceland.

A theory exists that the sunstone had polarizing attributes and was used as a navigation instrument by seafarers in the Viking Age.

A stone found in 2013 off Alderney, in the wreck of a 16th-century warship, may lend evidence of the existence of sunstones as navigational devices.

In the News

Fiction cross-reference

Nonfiction cross-reference

External links: