Readable, enjoyable and provides a clear overview of runes and their
importance to reading the past. EARLY MEDIEVAL EUROPE
Runes, a unique functional writing system, exclusive to northern and
eastern Europe, were used for some 1300 years in Scandinavia, from about
AD 200 till around the end of the fourteenth century, when the runic
alphabet finally gave way to the modern writing system. They were not
written, but carved - in stone, and on jewellery, weapons, utensils and
wood. The content of the inscriptions is very varied, from owner and
carpenter attributions on artefacts to memorials to the deceased on
erected stones; contrary to popular belief, they are not necessarily
magical or mystical, and the post-it notes of today have their
forerunners in such runic reminders as: "Buy salt, and don't
forgetgloves for Sigrid." The typical medieval runic inscription varies
from the deeply religious to the highly trivial [or perhaps crucial],
such as "I slept with Vigdis when I was in Stavanger."
This book presents an accessibleaccount of the Norwegian examples
throughout the period of their use. The runic inscriptions are discussed
not only from a linguistic point of view but also as sources of
information on Norwegian history and culture.
TERJE SPURKLAND is Associate Professor of Nordic Medieval Studies at the
University of Oslo.
