When was the Kvinneby amulet discovered?
Archaeologists unearthed the Kvinneby amulet in the village of Södra Kvinneby during the mid-1950s. The artifact dates from roughly 1050 to 1130 CE according to experts.
Questions about Kvinneby amulet
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What are the physical dimensions and features of the Kvinneby amulet?
The square copper plate measures approximately 5 centimeters on each side with a tiny hole near one edge suggesting it was worn around a neck. It contains some 143 runes carved into the surface following a boustrophedon writing style that alternates direction with every line.
Who published the first interpretation of the Kvinneby amulet and when?
Bruce E. Nilsson published his first interpretation of the Kvinneby amulet in 1976. He ignored what appear to be bind runes at the start of the inscription and read the text as an invocation to gods to protect Bove while he is at sea.
How did Ivar Lindquist interpret the meaning of the Kvinneby amulet?
Ivar Lindquist spent approximately 30 years pondering the amulet before publishing his work posthumously in 1987. He proposed a solemn prayer to an Earth Goddess referred to as Erka or Fold and identified her single son as Thor within the text.
What argument did Börje Westlund make against Ivar Lindquist regarding the Kvinneby amulet?
Börje Westlund published his argument against Lindquist in 1989 claiming Lindquist misinterpreted complicated bind runes as elaborate forms of normal runes. His reading translates the first runes as Here I carve protection for you Bófi shifting the narrative from a carver talking about himself to a separate carver addressing Bófi.