Key Points
- Archaeologists discovered the world’s oldest rune stone fragments at Svingerud, Norway.
- The fragments in different graves fit together like a puzzle, suggesting intentional separation.
- The inscriptions include multiple runic sequences and ambiguous symbols, possibly added at different times.
- The discovery challenges previous assumptions about early runes and their symbolic and practical uses.
Archaeologists in Norway have uncovered fragments of what is now considered the world’s oldest known rune stone, offering new insights into early Germanic writing. The fragments, discovered at the Svingerud grave field, fit together like a jigsaw puzzle, suggesting they were intentionally separated and later used in different burials.
Runes, the alphabet used for writing Germanic languages before the Latin script, have long been mysterious regarding their origins and early use. According to Dr. Kristel Zilmer, a runology professor at the University of Oslo, “The development of runic writing and its inscription on stone remains difficult to trace.”
The rune-inscribed sandstone fragments were found in separate graves, hinting at ceremonial and practical use. Over three field seasons, researchers meticulously analyzed the pieces, uncovering multiple runic sequences and ambiguous markings. Some inscriptions appear to have been added at different times, possibly by different individuals.
Published in Antiquity, this led researchers to believe that the original rune stone was deliberately fragmented and distributed among later burials. Initially, the stone may have marked a single grave, only to be broken apart and repurposed in later memorials. Dr. Zilmer notes, “Rune stones likely had both ceremonial and practical intentions. The original raised stone suggests a commemorative purpose, while its later use reflects symbolic and pragmatic functions.”
What makes this discovery even more remarkable is the precision with which the rune stone fragments can be dated. Cremated human remains and charcoal found at the site were subjected to radiocarbon dating, revealing a timeframe between 50 BC and AD 275. Thus, the fragments are the oldest known rune stone inscriptions.
The findings challenge previous assumptions about early Scandinavian rune stones. Researchers now question whether some unidentified symbols represent a transition between decorative markings and early written language. The fragmentation and redistribution of the stone could also symbolize a connection between different graves in the cemetery.
One of the researchers, Dr. Solheim, emphasized the significance of the discovery: “This rare find provides a crucial glimpse into early runic traditions and highlights the importance of carefully examining stone fragments in archaeological contexts. Future research on the Svingerud site will continue to uncover more about these early inscriptions.”