See the 2000-year-old rune archeologists just discovered in Norway
Archeologists in Norway have found what is believed to be the world's oldest rune, with inscriptions dating back approximately 2,000 years. The etchings on the brown, sandstone rock are "among the oldest runic inscriptions ever found" according to the Museum of Cultural History in Oslo. They are the earliest recording of written words in Scandinavia.
While runes have been found on other items like bones, "This may be one of the first attempts to use runes in Norway and Scandinavia on stone," explains Kristel Zilmer, a professor at the University of Oslo. "The text possibly refers to a woman called Idibera and the inscription could mean 'For Idibera,'" Zilmer also said. However, as rune language changed substantially over time, "not all inscriptions have a linguistic meaning."
The rune was found in fall 2021 in a grave excavation west of Oslo, reports The Associated Press. There is speculation that the rune could be for a person buried in the grave, according to Science Norway, especially since the excavation also revealed bones and charcoal. It comes from the Iron Age and was likely inscribed between A.D. 1 and 250.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The stone is still being studied and analyzed by experts but will be exhibited for one month at the Museum of Cultural History starting Jan. 21.
"Having such a runic find fall into our lap is a unique experience and the dream of all runologists," Zilmer remarked. "Without doubt, we will obtain valuable knowledge about the early history of runic writing."
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Devika Rao has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022, covering science, the environment, climate and business. She previously worked as a policy associate for a nonprofit organization advocating for environmental action from a business perspective.
-
You Are Here: the new David Nicholls 'past-their-prime' romance
The Week Recommends 'Midlife disenchantment' gives way to romance for two walkers on a cross-country hike
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
The new powers to stop stalking in the UK
The Explainer Updated guidance could help protect more victims, but public is losing trust in police and battered criminal justice system
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Criminal trail?'
Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
By The Week Staff Published
-
Blind people will listen to next week's total eclipse
Speed Read While they can't see the event, they can hear it with a device that translates the sky's brightness into music
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Melting polar ice is messing with global timekeeping
Speed Read Ice loss caused by climate change is slowing the Earth's rotation
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Why the Y chromosome is vanishing and what this means for the future
The Explainer A new sex gene could be on the evolution pipeline
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
An amphibian that produces milk?
speed read Caecilians, worm-like amphibians that live underground, produce a milk-like substance for their hatchlings
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Jupiter's Europa has less oxygen than hoped
speed read Scientists say this makes it less likely that Jupiter's moon harbors life
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Why February 29 is a leap day
Speed Read It all started with Julius Caesar
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US spacecraft nearing first private lunar landing
Speed Read If touchdown is successful, it will be the first U.S. mission to the moon since 1972
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Scientists create 'meaty' rice for eco-friendly protein
Speed Read Korean scientists have invented a new hybrid food, consisting of beef muscle and fat cells grown inside grains of rice
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published