Runestones and the Futhark

Runes are the letters of the alphabets used by Germanic peoples, including the Norse of Scandinavia, before and alongside the adoption of the Latin script. The runic alphabet is called the futhark, a name taken from the sounds of its first several letters, just as the word alphabet comes from the first Greek letters. Runes are made largely of straight lines, a shape well suited to carving into wood, bone, metal and stone.

The futhark changed over time. The earlier Elder Futhark contained around two dozen characters and was used across the Germanic world in the first centuries of the common era. In Scandinavia it was later simplified into the shorter Younger Futhark, which had fewer letters and was used during the Viking Age. Because runes were often carved rather than written with ink, their angular forms reflect the tools and materials used to make them.

Runestones are raised stones bearing runic inscriptions, most numerous in Scandinavia and especially in what is now Sweden. Many were erected during the Viking and early medieval periods as memorials, commemorating dead relatives, recording journeys and conquests, or proclaiming the deeds and property of those who raised them. Some are decorated with carved animals, crosses and interlaced patterns. As written records from a largely oral society, runestones are valuable evidence for language, society and belief in the early medieval north.

Frequently asked questions

What is the futhark?

The futhark is the runic alphabet used by Germanic and Norse peoples. Its name comes from the sounds of its first letters, much as alphabet derives from the first Greek letters.

Why are runes made of straight lines?

Runes were commonly carved into hard materials such as wood, bone and stone. Straight, angular strokes are easier to cut than curves, which shaped their distinctive forms.

What were runestones used for?

Many runestones were memorials raised to honour the dead, but they also recorded journeys, conquests, property and family ties, serving as public inscriptions in stone.