Fragments of inscribed flagstones

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These flagstone fragments were originally from the inside walls of the chambered cairn at Maes Howe at Stenness on Orkney. During the late 11th century, Norse visitors or tomb robbers broke into Maes Howe and carved around 30 runic inscriptions.

The fragments are part of an inscription reading 'OLAFR SIGURÐARSONAR REIST RUNAR ÞESSAR)', which translates as 'Oframr Sigurtharsonr carved these runes'.

Runes are a way of representing the Roman alphabet, used in northern Europe, especially Scandinavia during the first millennium AD. Many inscriptions are simple, such as names, and may have had some magical properties.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-043-529-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.IB 259
• Date: Between 1150 and 1200
  
• Material: Stone / flagstone; incised with runic characters. Inscription: [Incised with runic characters]
  Stone / runic inscription / portion
  
• Dimensions: X.IB 259 G - K 162 mm x 102 mm overall
  
• What: Stone / runic inscription / portion
  
• Subject:
• Who: Ian A. Muirhead (Previous owner)
  Mrs Whitson (Previous owner)
  
• Where: Scotland, Orkney, Stenness, Maes Howe (Chambered tomb, from walls of the chamber)
  
• Event:
• Description: Fragments of a runic inscription from Maes Howe, Stenness, Orkney
  
• References:
  • Ritchie, Anna. Viking Scotland London: B.T. Batsford Ltd/Historic Scotland, 1993, pp. 125-7
• Translations:
• Related Records: