About the book
Content and approach
Viking Runes takes readers into the fascinating world of Norse writing, exploring the meaning of signs carved into runestones, weapons, jewellery and everyday objects. It offers an accessible account of the origins of runic writing, the Elder and Younger Futhark, individual runes, well-known finds, rune-carvers and the role of writing in the Viking Age. Rather than presenting fantasy as history, it distinguishes what survives in the archaeological record from later interpretations. Runes could serve as writing, memorials, ownership marks, messages and sometimes expressions of religious or magical beliefs. The book explains how runes were carved, what materials were used and why inscriptions provide valuable evidence of Viking life. Modern myths and popular misconceptions are placed in context. An atmospheric introduction for readers interested in Vikings, Nordic history, ancient scripts and the people behind these surviving marks.