Translated from Swedish by Mindy MacLeod.
The aim of this dissertation is to represent as clearly as possible the genre of 'Viking-Age runic plates' by developing readings and interpretations of the inscriptions on the 46 metal plates with runes from the Viking Age known today. Several investigations of the runic plates have been conducted with a stereomicroscope for this purpose. On the basis of the new readings thus established, new interpretations have been proposed for the most problematic sections of the previously interpreted inscriptions. New interpretations are also offered for inscriptions on runic plates which have previously been considered non-lexical. As well as providing new readings and interpretations, this study has resulted in clarification of the relationship between the form and content of the inscriptions on the runic plates on the one hand and on their find circumstances and appearance on the other.
An argued documentation of the readings can be found in an accompanying catalogue in Swedish.
Author(s): Sofia Pereswetoff-Morath
Series: Acta Academiae Regiae Gustavi Adolphi, 155. Runrön, 21
Publisher: Royal Gustavus Adolphus Academy for Swedish Folk Culture
Year: 2019
Language: English
Pages: 374
City: Uppsala
Figures 11
Tables 13
Abbreviations 14
Acknowledgements 16
1. Introduction and presentation of the material 19
1.1. Runic plates – an orientation 19
1.2. Literature review 21
1.3. Working hypothesis 25
1.4. Scandinavian spells 25
1.5. Disposition and aim of the dissertation 28
1.6. Labelling and presentation of the material 29
1.7. Terminology 29
1.7.1. General terms 30
1.7.2. Runological terms 31
1.8. Dating 32
1.9. Reading and interpretational methodology 34
1.10. Delimitation of material 36
1.11. Presentation of the material 37
1.11.1. Runic plates: Country and Chronology 38
1.11.2. Typological distribution by time and place 40
1.11.3. Chronological distribution according to content 41
1.12. Conclusions 42
2. Comparative material 45
2.1. Older runes in younger runic inscriptions 46
2.2. Staveless runes 53
2.3. Bind-runes 54
2.4. Runes with non-graphematic branches 55
2.5. Coordinate runes 57
2.6. Balanced runes (mirror runes) 58
2.7. Runiforms, rune-like signs and rune-like markings 65
2.8. Conclusions 65
3. Swedish A-type runic plates with linguistic interpretations 67
3.1. The Hallbjäns plate, Gotland 67
3.1.1. Find circumstances 67
3.1.2. Earlier readings and suggested interpretations 68
3.2. Sigtuna plate 1, Uppland 70
3.2.1. Find circumstances 70
3.2.2. Earlier readings and interpretations 72
3.2.3. Conclusions and questions 87
3.2.4. New transliteration and interpretation 87
3.2.5. Summary 106
3.2.6. Dating of the Sigtuna plate 111
3.3. The Kvinneby plate, Öland 113
3.3.1. Find circumstances 113
3.3.2. Earlier readings and interpretations 114
3.3.3. Conclusions and new questions 133
3.3.4. New transliteration and interpretation 135
3.3.5. Summary 150
3.3.6. Dating of the Kvinneby plate 150
3.4. Solberga plates 1 and 2, Öland 151
3.4.1. Find circumstances and condition of the plates 151
3.4.2. Helmer Gustavson’s reading and interpretation 153
3.4.3. Interpretation of Solberga plate 1 155
3.4.4. Interpretation of Solberga plate 2 166
4. Swedish runic plates with linguistic interpretations (type B and fragmentary) 171
4.1. The Ulvsunda plate, Uppland 171
4.1.1. Find circumstances and current condition of the plate 171
4.1.2. Nordén’s transliteration and a new transliteration 172
4.1.3. Nordén’s interpretation and new suggestions 173
4.2. The Järfälla plate, Uppland 175
4.2.1. Find circumstances and current condition of the plate 175
4.2.2. Earlier transliteration and interpretation of the inscription 176
4.2.3. New transliteration and suggestions for interpretation 177
4.3. The Högstena plate, Västergötland 179
4.3.1. Find circumstances and present condition of the plate 179
4.3.2. Earlier readings and interpretations 180
4.3.3. New transliteration 184
4.3.4. New interpretation 186
4.4. Old Uppsala plate 1, Uppland 200
4.5. The Skänninge plate, Östergötland 201
4.6. Two problematic runic plates – Latin or Old Swedish? 204
4.7. Vassunda plate 3, Uppland 204
4.7.1. Discussion 206
4.8. Sigtuna plate 2, Uppland 207
4.8.1. Discussion 210
5. Uninterpreted runic plates from Sweden 213
5.1. Uninterpreted A-type plates 213
5.1.1. The Leksand plate, Dalarna 213
5.1.2. The Hovgård plate, Uppland 216
5.1.3. Björkö plates 1 and 2, Uppland 219
5.1.4. The Villberga plate, Uppland 221
5.1.5. The Sunnerby plate, Västergötland 224
5.1.6. Klinta plates 1 and 2, Öland 225
5.1.7. Solberga plates 3, 4 and 5, Öland 227
5.2. Uninterpreted B-type plates and fragmentary runic plates 229
5.2.1. Old Uppsala plate 2, Uppland 229
5.2.2. Sigtuna plate 3, Uppland 230
5.2.3. Sigtuna plate 4, Uppland 231
5.2.4. Sigtuna plate 5, Uppland 232
5.2.5. Sigtuna plate 6, Uppland 237
5.2.6. Sigtuna plate 7, Uppland 238
5.2.7. The Eketorp plate, Öland 239
5.3. Uninterpreted C-type plates 241
5.3.1. Gällungs plates 1 and 2, Gotland 241
5.3.2. The Hässelby plate, Uppland 243
5.3.3. The Östra Aros plate, Uppland 245
5.3.4. Summary 246
6. Danish runic plates 247
6.1. Interpreted Danish A-type plates 247
6.1.1. The Østermarie plate, Bornholm 247
6.1.2. The Roskilde plate, Zealand 249
6.2. Fragmentary interpreted Danish plates 254
6.2.1. The Skørrebrovej plate, Bornholm 254
6.2.2. The Uppåkra plate, Scania 255
6.3. Uninterpreted Danish runic plates of type A 257
6.3.1. Lund plate 1, Scania 257
6.4. Uninterpreted Danish plates of type B and fragments 259
6.4.1. Lund plate 2, Scania 259
6.4.2. The Lockarp plate, Scania 259
6.4.3. The Gyldensgård plate, Bornholm 260
6.5. Conclusions 261
7. Runic plates outside Scandinavia 263
7.1. The Deerness plate from Orkney, Scotland 263
7.2. Runic plates from contemporary Russia 265
7.2.1. Gorodišče plates 1 and 2 265
7.2.2. The Ladoga plate 272
7.2.3. Summary 290
8. Results and conclusion 292
8.1. The appearance and rune-forms of the Viking-Age runic plates 292
8.2. Glossary of the Viking-Age runic plates 299
8.3. Magic spells on the interpreted runic plates 307
8.4. The content of the inscriptions in relation to findplaces 309
8.5. The runes of the plates: magical symbols? 311
8.6. Final words 312
Summary 313
Bibliography 323
Abbreviations of archival institutions and bibliographical references 323
Viking-age and mediaeval primary sources 325
Secondary sources 326
Internet sources (primary and secondary 340
Appendix 1. Collected information on runic plates 342
