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The Haunted Librarian

~ Researching, investigating, and writing about the paranormal.

The Haunted Librarian

Category Archives: Archaeology

The Svingerud Stone: Oldest Runestone Discovered

25 Wednesday Jan 2023

Posted by The Haunted Librarian in Archaeology, Museums, Runestone

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Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo

In the Fall of 2021, archaeologists with the University of Oslo’s Museum of Cultural History were excavating an ancient cremation pit and uncovered a 12.2 x 12.6-inch flat stone with markings. Experts claim that the runestone may be the oldest runestone discovered. It has been named the “Svingerud Stone” or “Svingerudsteinen.”

The runic alphabet is one of the oldest known forms of writing, stemming from the Phoenician alphabet. It was used extensively during the Viking Age (793-1066 CE*); however, many runestones predate this period. For instance, the Einang Runestone dates to 300 CE.

Runestones were upright stones with runic inscriptions found primarily in Scandinavia, with the most in Sweden. The Svingerud Stone differs from most runestones in that it was found lying in a burial ground. Bones and wood were also found. Radiocarbon dating of the bones and wood dates the stone to 1 to 250 CE. An inscription reads “idiberug,” which may be the name of a person or family. Its meaning is unknown.

The discovery has been called “sensational” and “unique.” Usage of runestones ended when the runic alphabet was ultimately replaced with the Latin alphabet. The stone is on display at the Museum of Cultural History, January 21-February 26, 2023.

* I am using the CE (Common Era) notation that is more accurate than the BC/AD format.

British Heritage Crime

11 Saturday Apr 2020

Posted by The Haunted Librarian in Archaeology, Not Haunted, Not Haunted--But Cool

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Withybrook, Withybrook Medieval Village

The Withybrook shrunken medieval settlement dates back to the 12th century. One of the earliest structures, the All Saints’ Church, was restored in 1995. The area is deserted; however, it contains significant ancient monuments and is protected under the British Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act of 1979. It is also privately owned. The owners were recently fined £160,000 pounds for unauthorized destruction.

Withybrook is located in Warwickshire, England. Government documents show that people inhabited the area as far back as 1188. The area is now deserted and co-owned by mother and daughter, Heather and Elizabeth Mac. Along with Heather’s husband, John, they began excavating an area by ripping out plants, grading the land, and installing plumbing. The intent was to set up a yard for horses to graze. All of the work was unauthorized. The family were issued several warnings. They refused to stop.

Community residents appealed to the government. The Warwick Crown Court issued £160,000 pounds in fines and court fees. The Court cited the family’s lack of remorse for the high fines. They have until September to pay or face up to 14 months in jail.

Historically designated sites are important. The designations ensure preservation of culturally significant properties. Owners are well educated in the laws and know what can and cannot be done. Any changes must be approved by governing bodies. Although the Mac family are probably not the only people to commit heritage crimes, they received some of the highest fines known.

Skeleton Lake Mysteries Deepen

26 Monday Aug 2019

Posted by The Haunted Librarian in Archaeology, mysteries, Uncategorized

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Skeleton Lake, The New York Times

Slide1

Every year Skeleton Lake reveals a little more of her secrets. The lake remains frozen most of the year; however, during a brief warm period, the ice melts, leaving skeletal remains behind. An unpublished study based on research conducted on 5 skeletons found that the remains were 1,200 years old.

A new study, however, widened the research. DNA testing was performed on 38 skeletons. Researchers from India, the United States, and Germany, isolated three geographic regions of origins: 1. South Asian, 7th-10th centuries; 2. East Asian; and Mediterranean, both 17th-20th centuries. This supported the theory of several mass dumpings over 1,000 years. Moreover, none of the skeletons were related. This warrants more research. In the meantime, read the article in The New York Times, https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/20/science/skeleton-lake-archaeology-roopkund.html

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The Haunted Librarian

Gainesville, Florida

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