Introduction
Terje Spurkland: Norwegian Runes and Runic Inscriptions (The Boydell Press 2005). Norwegian version: I begynnelsen var fuþark. Norske runer og runeinnskrifter (Oslo 2001).
In addition to this students are to read approx. 200 pages of selected literature suggested by the teacher (given further down on this page). These selected texts are all taken from two compendiums: Runology I and Runology II.
Runic Inscriptions
The following inscriptions are to be studied in a certain detail:
Proto Norse:
- The Kylver stone, KJ 1.
- The Tjurkö bracteat 1, KJ 136.
- Øvre Stabu spear-head, KJ 31.
- Gallehus gold horn, KJ 43.
- Strøm whetstone, KJ 50.
- The Einang stone, KJ 63.
- The Kjølevik stone, KJ 75.
- The Tune stone, KJ 72.
- The Möjbro stone, KJ 99.
From Proto Norse to the Viking Age:
- The Eggja stone, KJ 101.
- The Ribe cranium, SJy 39.
Viking Age:
- The Gørlev stone 1, DR 239.
- The Snoldelev stone, DR 248.
- The Jelling stone 2, DR 42.
- The Gripsholm stone, Sö 179.
- The Ramsund rock face, Sö 101.
- The Skälby stone, U 279.
- The Alstad stone, N61 and N62.
- The Dynna stone, N68.
- The Vang stone, N84.
- The Galteland stone, N184.
- The Kuli stone, N449.
Middle Ages:
- Vinje church portal 1, N170.
- Tingvoll church plaque, N446.
- The Lom rune-stick (offer of marriage), A74.
- Bryggen in Bergen rune-stick (tag), N684.
- Bryggen in Bergen rune-stick (letter of trade), N650.
- The Ukna grave slab, Sm 145.
Some of these inscriptions may be exchanged for another. Any exchange must, however, be accepted by the teacher.
Accessories: Sources to Norwegian runic inscriptions
Additional reading:
Moltke, Erik: "Runic writing" in Runology I: 1-55.
Williams, Henrik: "The Origins of the Runes" in Runology I: 81-88.
Antonsen, Elmer: "Sacral or secular?" in Runology I: 130-166.
Barnes, Michael: "On Types of Argumentation in Runic Studies" in Runology I:253-260.
Haugen, Einar: "On the Parsimony of the Younger Futhark" in Runology I:253-260.
Liestøl , Aslak: "The Literate Vikings" in Runology II:3-13.
Fuglesang, Signe Horn: "Swedish Runestones of the Eleventh Century: Ornament and Dating" in Runology II: 63-83.
Haugen, Einar: "The Dotted Runes: From Parsimony to Plenitude" in Runology II: 151-160.
Seim, Karin Fjellhammer: "A Review of the Runic Material at Bryggen" in Runology II: 203-216.
Gustavson, Helmer: "Latin and Runes in Scandinavian Runic Inscriptions" in Runology II: 235-251.
Spurkland, Terje: "Scandinavian Medieval Runic Inscriptions - an Interface Between Literacy and Orality?" in Runology II: 289-296.
Please note that the page numbers are to the pages in the compendiums Runology I and Runology II, and are NOT to be used when giving references to the articles in your papers. In your papers you are supposed to refer to the articles as they are published – not as they are reproduced.