Harold W.: This is the first time I have heard of the Heavener Rune Stone. I was already familiar -- by reputation only -- with the Kensington Runestone, which has a museum devoted to it at Alexandria, MN. I understand every reputable historian, archaeologist, etc. regards it as a hoax. A few years back, a whole issue of the monthly magazine of the Minnesota Historical Society was devoted to it, and the evidence was conclusive. But the people of Alexandria happily ignore the evidence because the museum is an effective tourist attraction.

It is accepted, though, that the Vikings did visit North America before Columbus, but they didn't venture very far inland -- certainly not to Minnesota or Oklahoma.

See this review of the evidence by Viking Answer Lady.

By the way, I have an interesting book by Ian Wilson, called "The Columbus Myth: Did Men of Bristol Reach America Before Columbus?" which presents a very reasonable argument, but no definite proof, that fishermen from Bristol may have come to North America before Columbus.