The portormin (dunbeath) runestone

Findell, Martin

Abstract

A stone with a short runic inscription was discovered on the beach at Portormin Harbour in Dunbeath, Caithness, in 1996. The find attracted some press attention at the time, but has been largely ignored by the runological com­mu­nity amid doubts over its authenticity. There has, however, been no detailed dis­cussion of the stone in a public arena. A description of the inscription is followed by discussion of several interpretations. There are good reasons for suspecting that the carvings are of modern origin, but the matter cannot be settled with certainty; the case invites comparison with the controversies sur­rounding runic inscriptions in North America.

Citation

Findell, M. (2016). The portormin (dunbeath) runestone. Futhark: International Journal of Runic Studies, 6, 153-170

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 1, 2015
• Publication Date: Apr 23, 2016
• Deposit Date: Aug 22, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 22, 2016
• Journal: Futhark: International Journal of Runic Studies
• Electronic ISSN: 1892-0950
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 6
• Pages: 153-170
• Keywords: older runes, Caithness, Scotland, modern runic inscriptions, suspect runic inscriptions, methodology, find report
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/783962
• Publisher URL: http://uu.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?pid=diva2%3A922591&dswid=5190