The Scandinavian Runic-text Database (Swedish: Samnordisk runtextdatabas) is a project involving the creation and maintenance of a database of transliterated runic inscriptions. The project's goal is to comprehensively catalog runestones in a machine-readable way for future research. The database is freely available[1] via the Internet with a client program, called Rundata, for Microsoft Windows. For other operating systems, text files are provided or a web browser can be used to interact with the web application Runor.[1]
History
The origin of the Rundata project was a 1986 database of Swedish inscriptions at Uppsala University for use in the Scandinavian Languages Department.[2] At an international runic seminar in 1990, it was proposed to expand the database to cover all Nordic runic inscriptions, but funding for the project was not available until a grant was received in 1992 from the Axel och Margaret Ax:son Johnsons foundation.[2] The project officially started on January 1, 1993 at Uppsala University. After 1997, the project was no longer funded and work continued on a voluntary basis outside of normal work-hours.[2] In the current edition, published on December 3, 2008, there are over 6500 inscriptions in the database.[2]
Work is currently underway for the next edition of the database.
Format of entries
Each entry includes the original text,in a transliterated form, its location, English and Swedish translations, information about the stone itself, et cetera. The stones are identified with a code which consists of up to three parts.
The first part describes the origin of the inscription. For Swedish inscriptions this contains a code for the province, and, for Extra-Nordic inscriptions, a code for the country (not ISO 3166).
Province code:
- Bl – Blekinge
- Bo – Bohuslän
- D – Dalarna
- G – Gotland
- Gs – Gästrikland
- Hal – Halland
- Hs – Hälsingland
- J – Jämtland
- Lp – Lappland
- M – Medelpad
- Nä – Närke
- Sk – Skåne
- Sm – Småland
- Sö – Södermanland
- U – Uppland
- Vg – Västergötland
- Vr – Värmland
- Vs – Västmanland
- Ög – Östergötland
- Öl – Öland
Country code:
- BR – British Islands
- DR – Denmark (includes Skåne, Halland, Blekinge, and Southern Schleswig). Stone numbers taken from Jacobsen & Moltke Danmarks Runeindskrifter (1941–1942)
- FR – Faroe Islands
- GR – Greenland
- IR – Ireland
- IS – Iceland
- N – Norway
- X – Other areas
The second part of the code consists of a serial number or a previous method of cataloging.
The third part of the code is a character which indicates the age (Proto-Norse, Viking Age, or Middle Ages) and whether the inscription is lost or retranslated.
- # – inscription lost, later replaced with †
- $ – newly retranslated
- M – inscription from the Middle Ages
- U – inscription in Proto-Norse, i.e. before c. 800.
- [inscription from the Viking Age, if M or U are not present]
As such, U 88 would mean that the stone is from Uppland and that it is the 88th to be catalogued. This system has its origin in the book Sveriges runinskrifter (English: "Runic Inscriptions of Sweden")
Time periods used in Rundata
Most of the time, the Period/Datering information in Rundata just gives the date as V, meaning Viking Age, which is very broad. For some Danish inscriptions from Jacobsen & Moltke a more precise sub-period is given. The periods used are:
- Helnæs-Gørlev: c. 800 (or 750–c. 900)
- för-Jelling (pre-Jelling): c. 900
- Jelling (Jelling): 10th century and into the 11th century
- efter-Jelling (post-Jelling): c. 1000 – 1050
- kristen efter-Jelling (Christian, post-Jelling): 1st half of the 11th century
Many of the inscriptions in Rundata also include a field called Stilgruppering. This refers to date bands determined by the style of ornamentation on the stone as proposed by Gräslund:[3][4]
The date bands are:
- RAK: c. 990–1010 AD
- FP: c. 1010–1050 AD
- Pr1: c. 1010–1040 AD
- Pr2: c. 1020–1050 AD
- Pr3: c. 1050 – a generation forward (en generation framåt)
- Pr4: c. 1060–1100 AD
- Pr5: c. 1100–1130 AD
Version history
| Software version | Database version | Database release date |
|---|---|---|
| Runor | 2020 | 2020-12-03 |
| Rundata 3 & 3.1 | 2014 | 2014-09-02 |
| Rundata 2.5 | 2008 | 2008-12-03 |
| Rundata 2.0 | 2004 | 2004-09-18 |
| Rundata 1.0 | 2001 | 2001-12-21 |
| Rundata 1.0 | 2000 | 2000-05 |
| Rundata 1.0 | 1998 | 1998-02 |
| Rundata ? | 1997-09 | 1997-09 |
| Rundata ? | 1997-01 | 1997-01 |
| Rundata ? | 1991 | 1991 |
| Rundata 0 | 1987 | 1987 |
Original reference works
The catalog numbers refer to a variety of reference works and scholarly publications. Some of the more notable of these include:
- Sveriges runinskrifter, various volumes.
- Jacobsen, Lis; Moltke, Erik (1941–42). Danmarks Runeindskrifter. Copenhagen: Ejnar Munksgaards Forlag.
Other bibliography information is available inside the Rundata client program by pressing F4.
See also
References
- 1 2 Ladda ned Samnordisk runtextdatabas
- 1 2 3 4 Jesch, Judith (2013). "Runic lexicography in context". Futhark: International Journal of Runic Studies. 4: 77–100.
- ↑ Gräslund, Anne-Sofie (1991). "Runstenar – om ornamentik och datering". TOR. 23: 113–140. Archived from the original on 2021-02-09. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
- ↑ Gräslund, Anne-Sofie (1992). "Runstenar – om ornamentik och datering". TOR. 24: 177–201.
- ↑ "Versionshistorik". Uppsala runforum (in Swedish). Retrieved 12 May 2025.
External links
- Samnordisk runtextdatabas (in Swedish)
- Rundata-net, a web client
- Scandinavian Runic-text Database