The browser you are using is not supported by this website. All versions of Internet Explorer are no longer supported, either by us or Microsoft (read more here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/end-of-ie-support).

Please use a modern browser to fully experience our website, such as the newest versions of Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari etc.

Travels to Identity – Viking Rune Carvers of Today

På svenska

Author

  • Bodil Petersson

Summary, in English

This text deals with the phenomenon of today’s rune carvers in the Nordic area. By using symbols of antiquity in their craftsmanship, the rune carvers revive an act that is historically significant and bears aspects of identity in the past as well as today. Why do people carve and erect runes stones today? When and where is it done? What are the explicit or implicit purposes? The text tries to answer these questions by elucidating the role of a past society in today’s world. It is obvious that the rune carving is mainly done in the Nordic area, but the ideas emanating from the Viking Age are also spread all over the world, as the rune stones are also erected in other countries, for example in Germany, the Netherlands, Poland and Canada. The identity project is mainly about creating an individual lifestyle. It is concluded that the past plays an important role in connecting people and supporting small-scale perspectives, crafts and sustainable development in harmony with the past. The act of carving and erecting rune stones today is a form of travel to identity.

Department/s

Publishing year

2010

Language

English

Pages

71-86

Publication/Series

Lund Archaeological Review

Volume

Vol. 15-16

Issue

2009-2010

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Institute of Archaeology, University of Lund

Topic

  • Archaeology

Keywords

  • Viking Age
  • Living History
  • Rune Stones
  • Identity
  • Heritage Management
  • Archaeology

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1401-2189