Researchers in Norway say they have found what they believe is the world’s oldest runestone (符文石)—a stone with ancient writing on it.
Runes are the characters in several Germanic letters. These characters were used in northern Europe from ancient times until the change to the Latin letters. The origin of runic writing is unclear. The Norwegian researchers say the writing on the runestone could be up to 2,000 years old.
The runestone is square and flat. The runes carved into it may show the earliest example of recorded words in Scandinavia, the Museum of Cultural History in Oslo said. It said it was “among the oldest runic writings ever found” and “the oldest runestone ever found in the world”.
Kristel Zilmer is a professor at University of Oslo, of which the museum is part. Zilmer said, “This find will give us a lot of knowledge about the use of runes in the early Iron Age. This may be one of the first attempts to use runes in Norway and Scandinavia on stone.”
Runes have been found on stones and on home goods. Older runes have been found on other objects, also, but not on stones. The oldest known runic writing is on a hair tool made from bone. Zilmer said that the ancient writer might have used a knife or needle to make the runes.
Measuring 31 centimeters by 32 centimeters, the stone has several kinds of writings. Not all of them make sense. Eight runes on the front of the stone read “idiberug”—which could be the name of a person or family but not sure.
There is still a lot of research to be done on the rock, named Svingerud stone after where it was found.
The Museum of Cultural History is going to hold a public showing of the runestone for a month. The museum holds Norway’s largest collection of historical objects, from ancient times to the modern day.
【小题1】Where have the oldest runes been found?| A．On a bone. | B．On a stone. | C．On the iron. | D．On home goods. |
| A．The content on it. | B．The person who found it. |
| C．The place where it was discovered. | D．The date when it was found. |
| A．The origin of the runes. | B．The shape and size of the runestone. |
| C．The meaning of all the runes. | D．The exact age of the runestone. |
| A．Origin of Latin Has Been Discovered |
| B．Runestones Show Life of Ancient People |
| C．Stone with Ancient Writing on It Is on Show |
| D．Researchers Discover World’s Oldest Runestone |
