Archaeologists in Norway have pieced together fragments of what is now the world’s earliest known rune-stone, dating back to as early as 50 BC. The discovery at the Svingerud grave field offers new insights into the origins of runic writing, a script long associated with the medieval period but now revealed to have a much older history.
Runes were used to write Germanic languages before the adoption of the Latin alphabet, but their origins and early use have been difficult to trace. “The development of runic writing and the practice of inscribing runes on stone are difficult to trace,” explains Dr. Kristel Zilmer, professor in runology at the University of Oslo and a member of the research team behind the discovery.
The rune-stone fragments were found in separate graves and were initially thought to be unrelated. However, after three seasons of excavation and laboratory analysis, researchers discovered that the pieces fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. This suggests that the original stone had been intentionally broken and distributed across multiple burials. Some fragments contained distinct rune sequences, while others featured ambiguous markings, possibly engraved at different times by different individuals.
“Rune-stones likely had both ceremonial and practical intentions,” says Dr. Zilmer. “The grave field and the original raised stone suggest a commemorative and dedicatory intent, while subsequent use in a separate burial illuminates later pragmatic and symbolic expressions.”
The find is particularly significant because it provides a rare opportunity to date runic inscriptions with precision. Radiocarbon dating of cremated remains and charcoal from the site places the rune-stone’s context between 50 BC and AD 275—centuries before the earliest medieval rune-stones. This challenges previous assumptions about the timeline of runic writing and raises new questions about its early evolution.
“This is a rare example of finding runic fragments in well-preserved, datable archaeological contexts,” says Dr. Solheim, another researcher on the project. “It is of great importance for discussions on early Scandinavian rune-stones, and it also serves as a reminder for archaeologists to thoroughly investigate stone fragments found in grave contexts and search for potential inscriptions. We will see more research on this site and the rune-stone fragments in the years to come.”
With its mix of pragmatic and ritualistic uses, this rune-stone offers a glimpse into the complex role of runic inscriptions long before their more well-known medieval applications. As researchers continue to investigate the Svingerud site, this discovery could reshape our understanding of early Germanic literacy and the cultural significance of runes in pre-medieval Scandinavia.
The article, “Inscribed sandstone fragments of Hole, Norway: radiocarbon dates provide insight into rune-stone traditions,” by Steinar Solheim, Kristel Zilmer, Judyta Zawalska, Krister Sande Kristoffersen Vasshus, Anette Sand-Eriksen, Justin J.L. Kimball and John Asbjørn Munch Havstein, appears in Antiquity. Click here to read it.
Top Image: Runic markings on Hole 2, side B. In the photograph, the stone is arranged with side A facing upwards so that the runes on side B (foreground) are inverted. Photograph by George Alexis Pantos / Antiquity
Archaeologists in Norway have pieced together fragments of what is now the world’s earliest known rune-stone, dating back to as early as 50 BC. The discovery at the Svingerud grave field offers new insights into the origins of runic writing, a script long associated with the medieval period but now revealed to have a much older history.
Runes were used to write Germanic languages before the adoption of the Latin alphabet, but their origins and early use have been difficult to trace. “The development of runic writing and the practice of inscribing runes on stone are difficult to trace,” explains Dr. Kristel Zilmer, professor in runology at the University of Oslo and a member of the research team behind the discovery.
The rune-stone fragments were found in separate graves and were initially thought to be unrelated. However, after three seasons of excavation and laboratory analysis, researchers discovered that the pieces fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. This suggests that the original stone had been intentionally broken and distributed across multiple burials. Some fragments contained distinct rune sequences, while others featured ambiguous markings, possibly engraved at different times by different individuals.
“Rune-stones likely had both ceremonial and practical intentions,” says Dr. Zilmer. “The grave field and the original raised stone suggest a commemorative and dedicatory intent, while subsequent use in a separate burial illuminates later pragmatic and symbolic expressions.”
The find is particularly significant because it provides a rare opportunity to date runic inscriptions with precision. Radiocarbon dating of cremated remains and charcoal from the site places the rune-stone’s context between 50 BC and AD 275—centuries before the earliest medieval rune-stones. This challenges previous assumptions about the timeline of runic writing and raises new questions about its early evolution.
“This is a rare example of finding runic fragments in well-preserved, datable archaeological contexts,” says Dr. Solheim, another researcher on the project. “It is of great importance for discussions on early Scandinavian rune-stones, and it also serves as a reminder for archaeologists to thoroughly investigate stone fragments found in grave contexts and search for potential inscriptions. We will see more research on this site and the rune-stone fragments in the years to come.”
With its mix of pragmatic and ritualistic uses, this rune-stone offers a glimpse into the complex role of runic inscriptions long before their more well-known medieval applications. As researchers continue to investigate the Svingerud site, this discovery could reshape our understanding of early Germanic literacy and the cultural significance of runes in pre-medieval Scandinavia.
The article, “Inscribed sandstone fragments of Hole, Norway: radiocarbon dates provide insight into rune-stone traditions,” by Steinar Solheim, Kristel Zilmer, Judyta Zawalska, Krister Sande Kristoffersen Vasshus, Anette Sand-Eriksen, Justin J.L. Kimball and John Asbjørn Munch Havstein, appears in Antiquity. Click here to read it.
Top Image: Runic markings on Hole 2, side B. In the photograph, the stone is arranged with side A facing upwards so that the runes on side B (foreground) are inverted. Photograph by George Alexis Pantos / Antiquity
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