Inscribed sandstone fragments of Hole, Norway

Radiocarbon Dates Provide Insight Into Rune-Stone Traditions

Bibliographic Data

ID3438993
AuthorsSvale Solheim (0000-0001-8293-8147, University of Oslo, corresponding author), Kristel Zilmer (University of Oslo), Judyta Zawalska (University of Oslo), Krister Sande Kristoffersen Vasshus, Anette Sand-Eriksen (0009-0004-4404-1602, University of Oslo), Justin J L Kimball (0000-0002-7870-381X, University of Oslo), John Asbjørn Munch Havstein (University of Oslo)
Year2025
Volume99
Issue404
Pages422-439
Publication date2025-04-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAntiquity (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0003-598X • E-ISSN: 1745-1744
PublisherAntiquity Publications (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.15184/aqy.2024.225
OpenAlexW4407085743
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited17

The development of runic writing (the early Germanic alphabetic script) and the practice of inscribing runes on stone are difficult to trace, particularly as rune-stone inscriptions are rarely found in original and/or datable contexts. The discovery of several inscribed sandstone fragments at the grave field at Svingerud, Norway, with associated radiocarbon dates of 50 BC-AD 275, now provide the earliest known context for a runestone. An unusual mixture of runes and other markings are revealed as the fragments are reconstructed into a single standing stone, suggesting multiple episodes of inscription and providing insight into early runic writing practices in Iron Age Scandinavia

Archaeology · Context (archaeology) · Geometry · Inscribed figure · Linguistics · Radiocarbon dating · TRACE (psycholinguistics) · Ancient and Medieval Archaeology Studies · Geology · Historical and Archaeological Studies · History · Linguistics and language evolution · Philosophy

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