New interpretation of runes reveals pricing in the Viking Age

Recent deciphering of the runic inscription on the Forsa Ring, a 9th- or 10th-century iron ring and the oldest surviving legal text from Scandinavia, has revealed new information about the monetary system of the Viking Age. The reinterpretation changed only one word, but the change revealed a more flexible and practical method of paying fines.

For centuries, the Forsa ring has hung on the door of Forsa parish church in Hälsingland, central Sweden, but it is pre-Christian, so its original location was not there. It is 17 inches in diameter and has an iron nail that was probably used to fit it through a hole in the door. Around 250 runes are engraved around its edge, recording the fines for violating the rules of the sanctuary.

The runes are as follows:

A letter to the first piece of paper
Uksa is holy, holy
In þriþia men uksa fiura auk aura ata staff

The previous translation was:

The first time the sanctuary was repaired, one ox and two ounces of silver (fine silver) were paid for the staff; the second time, two oxen and four ounces of silver (fine silver) were paid; the third time, four oxen and eight ounces of silver (fine silver) were paid.

Researchers at the Department of Economic History and International Relations at Stockholm University have proposed a different interpretation of the word “auk”, changing the entire elaborate structure.

“The Fussalingen inscription ‘uksa … auk aura tua’ was previously interpreted as meaning that the fine had to be paid with an ox and two pieces of silver ore,” said Rodney Edvinsson, professor of economic history at Stockholm University, who led the study. “This meant that the criminal had to pay with two different types of goods, which was both impractical and time-consuming.” […]

By changing the translation of the word “auk” from the previous interpretation “and” to the new interpretation “also”, the meaning was changed, so that the fine could be paid with one ox or two ore of silver. One ore was equivalent to about 25 grams of silver.

“This suggests that this was a more flexible system where both cattle and silver could be used as units of payment. If a person had easier access to cattle than silver, they could pay the fine with one cattle. Conversely, if someone had silver but no cattle, they could pay with two ore of silver,” said Rodney Edvinson.

Not only is this explanation more practical and convenient for people to pay fines, it is also more consistent with later Scandinavian law, and the valuation of the silver bull is comparable to that of silver bulls in other European countries. If the researchers are correct, the Fora Ring rune would be the earliest surviving price record in Scandinavia.

Rodney Edvinson said: “Silver price levels during the Viking Age were much lower than in the early 14th and late 16th centuries, but were about the same as in the late 15th and 12th centuries, when silver was in short supply.”

This study highlights the importance of using modern economic theory to interpret historical materials. By combining economic theory with archaeological and historical findings, it opens up new opportunities for interdisciplinary research and a deeper understanding of early economic systems.

The study has been published in Review of Scandinavian Economic History You can read the full article here.