Oldest Runic Inscription found on a Knife Blade

In a thrilling archaeological revelation, researchers from the Museum Odense, in Denmark, unveil a remarkable find – the country's oldest runic inscription on a knife blade dating back almost 2000 years. This extraordinary discovery, made in a small burial ground east of Odense, has left archaeologists in awe, offering a rare glimpse into Denmark's earliest written language.

Photo Credit: Museum Odense

The Museum Odense researchers stumbled upon the ancient knife blade in an urn within the burial ground, presenting a unique artifact that predates the well-known Jelling Stones' runes by hundreds of years. Jakob Bonde, an archaeologist from Museum Odense, expressed the rarity and significance of the find, stating, "It is one of the most amazing things an archaeologist can experience because it is an incredibly rare find."

The runic inscription on the blade features the oldest known runic alphabet, comprising five runes that translate to "hirila" in Old Norse, meaning "Little Sword." While the exact meaning – whether referring to the blade itself or its owner – remains uncertain, it is evident that this artifact held great importance to be deposited as a funerary offering two millennia ago.

Lisbeth Imer from the National Museum highlighted the significance of this discovery in shedding light on Denmark's earliest written language spoken during the Iron Age. The rarity of finding runes from this period provides a unique opportunity to delve deeper into the country's historical roots and uncover the early stages of literacy.

During the Iron Age, literacy was not widespread, and the ability to read and write carried significant status and power. The runes on the ancient knife blade provide a fascinating glimpse into the intellectual elite of the time, with early traces of such individuals discovered on the island of Funen. Only one other example of runes from this period has been found in Denmark – a small bone comb in Vimosen inscribed with the word "harja."