Memory Set in Stone: Another Look at the Berezan Runic Inscription

Abstract

Scandinavian runic inscriptions constitute unique and reliable historical sources. Each Scandinavian runic stone tells a story. When someone encounters a runestone, they don’t just observe it. The runic inscription on the stone makes them feel part of the life experience of the deceased. The Berezan Scandinavian runic stone from the Viking age is evidence of the Viking trade and a micro-narrative about the Viking age landscape. The text on the stone is understood as common topos for the development of cultural experience. It highlights the human lives, activities, and cultural environment that influenced the existence of the stone.

Keywords

• viking
• runic stones
• runestone
• rune
• inscription
• scandinavian