Corpus Editions of Norwegian Runic Inscriptions

Abstract

The first corpus edition of Norwegian runic inscriptions appeared as part of Ole Worm’s Monumenta Danica and contained only fifty items. In 1864, Sophus Bugge began working with runes and later conceived the idea of producing a modern corpus edition. Norway’s inscriptions with older runes (NIæR) ap­peared under his name and that of his successor, Magnus Olsen, from 1891–1924; the work is outdated and has been supplanted by supranational editions of the older futhark corpus. Magnus Olsen began publication of Norway’s in­scrip­tions with younger runes (NIyR) in 1937–41 and was assisted after 1948 by Aslak Liestøl, who was responsible for the Norwegian Runic Archives. The five volumes published by 1960 were initially intended to be a complete corpus pub­li­cation. However, archaeological excavations after the fire at Bryggen (‘the [Hanse­atic] Wharf’) in Bergen in 1955 ultimately produced almost as many new inscrip­tions as had been published in the first five volumes and since then there have been many more new Norwegian finds. At least six further volumes will be needed to accommodate this additional material; one has appeared and another is nearing completion. The series is well illustrated, extensively indexed and in general restrained, although in the first five volumes Magnus Olsen could on occasion indulge in speculation and even flights of fantasy.