A team of researchers has found fragments of the oldest rune stone in the world in the Svingerud burial field, Norway. These pieces, which have been assembled like a puzzle, offer a unique insight into the early uses of runic writing on stone and its possible ceremonial and practical meanings.

Runes were the writing system used for Germanic languages before the adoption of the Latin alphabet, with their earliest forms in use until approximately 700 AD. However, the exact origin of this script and its evolution remain a mystery.

According to Dr. Kristel Zilmer, professor of runology at the University of Oslo (UiO) and a member of the research team, the development of runic writing and the practice of inscribing runes on stone are difficult to trace. Therefore, the discovery of these sandstone fragments with runic inscriptions in Svingerud is of great significance, as it sheds light on the early use of runic writing on stone.

Runic stone norway oldest
The Svingerud site, where the stone fragments were found. Credit: Charlotte Nueva Finnebråten / Museum of Cultural History

Over three seasons of meticulous excavations, archaeologists discovered the rune stone fragments in separate graves. After laboratory analysis, researchers were able to assemble them, revealing several runic inscriptions and other enigmatic markings. Some fragments contained multiple runic sequences engraved at different times by various individuals, suggesting that the original stone may have been deliberately broken apart and redistributed among different graves.

This discovery raises an intriguing theory: Could the stone have originally been erected to mark a grave and later fragmented to commemorate other subsequent burials? This hypothesis reinforces the idea that rune stones served both a ceremonial and practical role in Germanic culture.

One of the most revealing aspects of the research has been the ability to precisely date the archaeological contexts using radiocarbon dating of cremated human remains and charcoal found at the site. The results indicated that the rune stone fragments date between 50 BC and 275 AD, making them the oldest known example of runic writing on stone.

Runic stone norway oldest
New fragments of the stone discovered in another tomb. Credit: Kristel Zilmer

This finding raises new questions about the nature of runic writing in its earliest stages. Some of the identified symbols may represent a transition between ornamental writing and a more structured communication system. Additionally, the intentional fragmentation and dispersal of the stone may have served to connect different graves in the burial field, establishing symbolic ties between generations.

Dr. Steinar Solheim, the study’s lead author, emphasizes the importance of the discovery: This is a rare case of runic fragments found in well-preserved and datable archaeological contexts. Its relevance to the discussion of early Scandinavian rune stones is immense.

Likewise, the discovery underscores the need for archaeologists to examine stone fragments found in funerary contexts more closely in search of possible inscriptions. This finding marks only the beginning of future investigations in Svingerud, where the study of these fragments could reveal even more details about funerary practices and the evolution of runic writing in antiquity.

With these new discoveries, the study of runes and their applications continues to evolve, offering a fascinating window into ancient Scandinavian traditions and the complex symbolism of rune stones.

SOURCES

Antiquity Journal

Solheim S, Zilmer K, Zawalska J, et al. Inscribed sandstone fragments of Hole, Norway: radiocarbon dates provide insight into rune-stone traditions. Antiquity. Published online 2025:1-18. doi:10.15184/aqy.2024.225

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