Runes provide the first known written record in Scandinavia, and as such provide important insights into the personal heritage of the time.

The first known rune inscription in stone is dated to 350 BCE. However, runes carved into wood, metal and bone appeared centuries earlier.

Names of scripts include Elder Futhark (the earliest script, mainly in Denmark) and the Younger Futhark (mainly from Sweden)

See separate blog post for more about runes!