Individual variability in Rune Carving on Rock. A comparison between individuals and workshops

Abstract

The aim was to explore intra-individual variability in rune carvers’ cutting techniques and how this differs from inter-individual variation. The method used is Surface Structure Analysis by laser scanning, as developed at the Archaeological Research Laboratory, Stockholm University (Freij 1986, 1990; Kitzler 1998, 2000; Kitzler Åhfeldt 2001). The variation in cutting techniques is discussed in the light of a Principal Components Analysis of a reference material consisting of five recently cut rune stones. A selection of rune stones associated with the name Fot is also analysed, the author’s interpretation be-ing that at least three individuals were involved in their production. A comparison between the Fot rune stones and some associated with the name Öpir does not show any great differences between the two groups – i.e. the differences between individuals are greater than the common traits within a group.