NFI1100 - Autumn 2020

Syllabus/achievement requirements

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). The selected texts are either taken from the compendiums: Runology I, Runology II and Runology Addendum, or they are available online. See the detailed schedule in Canvas.

Runic Inscriptions

The following inscriptions are to be studied in a certain detail:

Proto Norse:

Kylver stone, G 88 / KJ 1.
Øvre Stabu spear-head, KJ 31.
Gallehus gold horn, DR 12 / KJ 43.
Tjurkö bracteat 1, DR IK184 / KJ 136.
Strøm whetstone, KJ 50.
Tune stone, KJ 72.
Kjølevik stone, KJ 75.
Möjbro stone, KJ 99.

From Proto Norse to the Viking Age:

Eggja stone, KJ 101.
Istaby stone, DR 359
Ribe cranium, DR EM85;151B / SJy 39.

Viking Age:

Jelling stone 2, DR 42.
Kälvesten stone, Ög 8
Vang stone, N 84.
Galteland stone, N184.
Ågersta stone, U 729.
Ramsund rock face, Sö 101.
Dynna stone, N68.
Kuli stone, N449.
Torsätra stone, U 613.
Gripsholm stone, Sö 179.
Frugården stone, Vg 181

Middle Ages:

Vinje church portal 1, N 170.
Tingvoll church plaque, N 446.
Lom rune-stick (offer of marriage), A 74.
Bryggen in Bergen rune-stick (letter of trade), N 648.
Bryggen in Bergen rune-stick (letter of trade), N 650.
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:

Barnes, Michael P. (1998): "The Transitional Inscriptions" in Runology I:201-214.
Antonsen, Elmer (2002): "Sacral or secular?" in Runology I: 130-166.
Fjellhammer Seim, Karin: "A Review of the Runic Material at Bryggen" in Runology II: 203-216.
Gräslund, Anne-Sofie (2006): "Dating the Swedish Viking-Age rune stones on stylistic grounds" in Runes and their secrets: Studies in runology, ed. Marie Stoklund, pp. 117-139.
Gustavson, Helmer: "Latin and Runes in Scandinavian Runic Inscriptions" in Runology II: 235-251.
Haugen, Einar: "The Dotted Runes: From Parsimony to Plenitude" in Runology II: 151-160.
Jesch, Judith (1994): “Runic inscriptions and social history: some problems of method.” In Proceedings of the Third International Symposium on Runes and Runic Inscriptions, Grindaheim, Norway, 8-12 August 1990, ed. James E. Knirk, pp. 149-162.
Jesch, Judith, (1998): “Still Standing in Ågersta: Textuality and Literacy in Late Viking-Age Rune Stone Inscriptions” in Runology II:47-60
Liestøl , Aslak (1971): "The Literate Vikings" in Runology II:3-13.
McManus, Damian (1991): A Guide to Ogam. Pp. 1-41 (ch. 1-3), 128-143 (in ch 7), 147-166 (ch. 8) in Runology Addendum.
Spurkland, Terje: "Scandinavian Medieval Runic Inscriptions - an Interface Between Literacy and Orality?" in Runology II: 289-296.
Williams, Henrik (1996): "The Origin of the Runes" in Runology I: 81-88.
Williams, Henrik (2012): “'Dead in White Clothes': Modes of Christian Expression on Viking Age Rune Stones in Present-Day Sweden" in Epigraphic Literacy and Christian Identity: Modes of Written Discourse in the Newly Christian European North, ed. Kristel Zilmer & Judith Jesch, pp. 137‒152. Pre-print available here: http://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:543345/FULLTEXT03.pdf
Williams, Henrik (2012): “The Kensington Runestone: Fact and Fiction” in The Swedish-American Historical Quarterly, Vol. 63, nr 1, pp. 3-22 http://uu.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:543322/FULLTEXT01.pdf