Norwegian archaeologists have unearthed the oldest rune stone in the world, dating back 2,000 years.
AP cites the Museum of Cultural History in Oslo, stating that the sandstone block discovered is brown, flat, and square with scratchings and runes carved on its surface.
The oldest rune stone in the world, dating back 2,000 years, was discovered in Norway. (Photo: AP)
Runes are characters from several Germanic alphabets used in Northern Europe from ancient times until the adoption of the Latin alphabet. In fact, runes have been found on various household items, but not typically on stones. Previously, the earliest find of runes was discovered on a bone comb excavated in Denmark. Mr. Zilmer noted that these inscriptions were likely carved with a knife or a pointed tool.
Specifically, this ancient rune stone was discovered in the fall of 2021 during archaeological excavations of a grave near Tyrifjord, west of Oslo. This area is also known for several significant archaeological discoveries. However, information was only made public on January 17, 2023, as archaeologists needed additional time to analyze and confirm the dating of this rune stone.
From other objects found in the cremation pit, such as burned bones and charcoal, it has been determined that the runes were likely carved between AD 1 and AD 250.
This ancient rune stone has been named Svingerud by archaeologists. (Photo: AP).
According to scientists involved in the project, this may be the earliest example of recorded words in writing from the Scandinavian region. Additionally, it is “one of the oldest rune inscriptions ever found,” and “the oldest rune stone with identifiable data in the world.”
In detail, the stone measures 31 cm x 32 cm and features various types of carvings, meaning not all symbols have linguistic significance. The front of the stone is inscribed with 8 runes that can be read as “idiberug” – potentially referring to the name of a woman, a man, or a family.
Professor Kristel Zilmer from the University of Oslo, which houses the museum, considers this discovery to be one of the greatest achievements of his scholarly career. He also notes that this significant find will provide researchers with a wealth of knowledge about the use of runes in the early Iron Age. In Norway and the broader Scandinavian region, this could represent one of the earliest attempts to use runes on stone by ancient peoples.
However, research on the stone named Svingerud still holds much potential, and scientists hope to gain further insights into the history of runes through it.
For now, this stone will be on display for one month, starting January 21, at the Museum of Cultural History, which houses the largest collection of historical artifacts in Norway from the Stone Age to the modern era.
