Corpus Editions of Norwegian Runic Inscriptions

Norwegian runic inscriptions, initially documented in Ole Worm's 17th-century corpus with only fifty items, have seen significant advancements through modern editions. The first comprehensive edition, Norway's Inscriptions with Older Runes (NIæR), was published between 1891 and 1924 by Sophus Bugge and Magnus Olsen but is now outdated due to more extensive supranational editions. A subsequent project, Norway's Inscriptions with Younger Runes (NIyR), began in 1937 under Olsen's leadership and continued by Aslak Liestøl, aiming for a complete corpus publication. However, the 1955 fire at Bryggen in Bergen uncovered nearly as many new inscriptions as those previously published, necessitating additional volumes—one already released and another nearing completion. This ongoing work, characterized by its thorough illustration and indexing, reflects both scholarly rigor and occasional speculative tendencies in earlier volumes.

Knirk, J. E. (2022). Corpus Editions of Norwegian Runic Inscriptions. Futhark: International Journal of Runic Studies, 12, 29–48. https://doi.org/10.33063/diva-491877