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By Aristos Georgiou
Science and Health Reporter
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Archaeologists have discovered what may be the world's earliest known rune-stone, a study reports.
Runes are the letters of an alphabetic script used to write Germanic languages before the adoption of the Latin alphabet. Their origin is debated but the oldest of the runic alphabets was in use until around A.D. 700.
The development of runic writing and the practice of inscribing runes on stones are difficult to trace, particularly because rune-stone inscriptions are rarely found in original and/or datable contexts.
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But recent excavations conducted at the Svingerud grave field in Norway have resulted in the discovery of several inscribed sandstone fragments in burials, according to the study, which was published in the journal Antiquity.
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The researchers worked out that these various pieces fitted together like a jigsaw puzzle, revealing that the fragments make up a single stone engraved with an "unusual" mixture of runes and other unidentified markings.
The archaeological context of the finds provided the researchers with an exceptional opportunity to date the rune-stone using radiocarbon techniques.
This work determined that the fragments likely date to between 50 B.C. and A.D. 275—the earliest known dates for rune-stones.
Detailed examination revealed that while the fragments are from the same original slab, the various inscriptions may represent different acts of carving, possibly produced at different times by multiple people.
The stone appears to have been intentionally fragmented, scattered and incorporated into later burials. This finding casts light on how the use of rune-stones changed over time.
It is possible that the stone was initially intended to mark one grave, but was fragmented to commemorate subsequent burials.
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"Rune-stones likely had both ceremonial and practical intentions," study author Kristel Zilmer, a professor in runology at the University of Oslo, Norway, said in a statement.
"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," study author Steinar Solheim, also with the University of Oslo, said in the statement.
"This is a rare example of finding runic fragments in well-preserved, datable archaeological contexts.
"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.
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Reference
Solheim, S., Zilmer, K., Zawalska, J., Vasshus, K. S. K., Sand-Eriksen, A., Kimball, J. J. L., & Havstein, J. A. M. (2025). Inscribed sandstone fragments of Hole, Norway: Radiocarbon dates provide insight into rune-stone traditions. Antiquity. https://doi.org/10.15184/aqy.2024.225
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