“Gothic” Alphabet, many of the letters are quite different.

Readings of the Inscriptions by Professors
Stephens, Munch, Rafn.

No. I.

Thatir Vikinkr . . . a, kom, Vtir, Hir, til.

Thatir the Viking, came here to weary—(perhaps from the sea, or from battle.)

The inscription is incomplete, several letters being obliterated. The a in the Bind-rune Ak is probably the termination of the word Fra, from.—Professor Stephens.

Thatir Vikinkr . . . KOMUTIRHIRTIL.

That which the Wicing . . . came outerly here to.

This is only a fragment, some of the letters being obliterated. It may mean that a pirate or Wicing had been at the tumulus and found something, or that some person had found what the Wicing had left. It may however be merely the name of some person, as Vikingr is sometimes used as a Christian name.—Professor Munch.

That Ir Vikingr . . . A Kom Ut Irhirtil.

This is a Viking . . . come out is hereto.

The inscription is incomplete. Vikingr may be the name of a man.—Professor Rafn.

No. II.

Molfr Kolbainssonr Raeist Runa Thesa Ghaut.

Molf Kolbainsson carved these Runes to Gaut.

Probably a memorial to a comrade who had fallen in battle.—Professor Stephens.

Tholfr Kolbeinssonr raeist runar thesa.

Tholf Colbanesson engraved these Runes.

The last word, read as haua, seems superfluous. It is possible there may have been some mis-spelling, the first (a) in haua may have been an (e) the dot having been a little prolonged, and the (u or v) may have been intended for an R, the word would then read hér á, hereon, or on this stone.—Professor Munch.

Tholfr Kolbeinssonr reist Runar thessar hatt.

Tholf Kolbeinsson carved these Runes on High.—Professor Rafn.

(Note.—Nos. 1 and 2 are both engraved on the upper part of the building.—J. F.)

No. III.

Bra Hoh Thana.

Bra hewed this.

The third letter (a) is very rare, and is an indication of the great antiquity of the inscription. The word hew is often used for carve or write.—Professor Stephens.

Bre Hoh Thena, or, BRAUT HAUG THENNA.

Broke this tumulus.

The inscription seems to be incomplete, some words may have been engraved on another stone and lost.—Professor Munch.

(Note.—The present state of the stone hardly justifies this supposition.—J. F.)

Bre höh Thena, bre hoh Thenna.

Professor Rafn does not translate this. He remarks that what precedes is “incomplete and undecipherable.”

No. IV.

Vemuntr Raeist.

Vemunt carved.—Professor Stephens.

Vemuntr Raeist.

Wemund engraved (these Runes).—Professor Munch.

Vimundr Raeist.

Vemund carved (the Runes).—Professor Rafn.

No. V.

F, U, Th, O, R, K, H, N, I, A, S, T, B, M, L, Y.

This is the Scandinavian Runic Futhork, or Alphabet. The form of the second letter is very rare, the last three are also very unusual, and may be considered as an indication that the building had been for a long period of time in the hands of many people. It was the custom to write the Alphabet wherever it was most likely to meet the eye, and a passing visitor, or treasure seeker, would have hardly taken so much trouble.—Professor Stephens.

F, U, Th, O, R, K, H, N, I, A, S, T, B, U, L, U.

The Runic Alphabet—Some of the letters here have been placed out of their proper order, owing probably to carelessness on the part of the writer. Time has also produced its effects upon the letters, the ǁ is clearly , and the long stroke in the third letter (th) is also accidental.—Professor Munch.

F U Th O R K H N I A S T B M L R.

The common Runic Alphabet.—Professor Rafn.

No. VI.

Orkasonr, Saghthi, a, Runom, thaeim, Ir, Han, Ristu.

Orkason said, in the Runes which he wrote.

No. VII.

Nuari Kulturmr, Sikurthr, Iru, Falnir, Kiaebik, Uil Saeghian Ir, So, Mair.

Orkason said in the Runes which he wrote—Nuari, Kulturmr Sikurthr, Iru, are fallen.
Kiaebik will say ye (tell you) so more.

These two inscriptions must be taken together; they have been written at the same time, and by the same person. It is probably a military message from some battle-field, sent through a trusty officer who is commissioned to make known the details. The word Nuari is very doubtful; this part of the inscription is very indistinct. It becomes more legible advancing from left to right.—Professor Stephens.

Orkasonr sagthi a run om theim er halir ristu.

The son of Orca dictated the Runes which heroes engraved.

There seems to have been