The Forsa Ring ( Forsaringen in Swedish ) is the oldest surviving legal text from Scandinavia , dating to around the 9th or tenth century CE . However , the information is not inscribed on composition , nor rock or Sir Henry Joseph Wood , but on an atomic number 26 ring .
The effectual documentconsists ofa metal hoop around 43 centimeters ( nearly 17 inches ) in diameter that was likely used as a door hold , inscribed with almost 250 runes . The runic inscription on the ring key out fines for a specific offense which must be paid up in oxen and silver grey – or at least that ’s what we previously thought .
In a novel study , an economic historiographer at Stockholm University has taken a closer look at the inscription ’s signification and uncovered new insights into the effectual written document .
“ The Forsaringen inscription ‘ uksa … auk aura tua ’ was antecedently interpreted to mean that fines had to be paid with both an wild ox and two ore of Ag . This would imply that the guilty party had to give with two different types of good , which would have been both impractical and fourth dimension - consuming , “ Rodney Edvinsson , subject field generator and Professor of Economic History at Stockholm University , said in astatement .
allot to his analysis , the " auk " should be rede as “ also ” as opposed to " and , ” have in mind the fine could be paid either with an ox or with two ore of Ag .
“ This indicates a much more pliant organisation , where both oxen and silver could be used as units of payment . If a person had easier access to oxen than to silver , they could pay off their amercement with an ox . Conversely , if someone had silver but no oxen , they could pay with two ore of silver , “ Edvinsson excuse .
The honorable mention of both “ defrayment type ” perhaps reflects the shifting saving of Scandinavia at the sentence . In the late 10th and early 11th 100 , the realm insure an inflow of silver that boosted the economy . The newfound riches led to the minting of the first domestic coin in Sweden around 995 CE . However , just a few decades later in the 1030s CE , coin minting ceased and the economy shifted back to using non - metallic good , like livestock , as standard trade units .
It ’s probable that the Forsa Ring captures this abbreviated ephemeral period when Vikings were using both rare metals and stock to convert economic value .
As a non - literate culture , theVikingsaren’t known for their record - retention and are often depicted as wild marauders . However , it is evident they created complexly organize gild and documented the everyday reality of their world in a sincerely unique panache .
They did this using runestones , a system of symbol often chip at into rock to immortalize the all in , put down significant events , or celebrate achievements . Among the most amazing arethe Jelling stonesin Denmark , a pair of tenth - century royal tombstone . The oldest was created on behalf of King Gorm the Old to honor his wife Thyra , while the 2nd I. F. Stone was evoke by his son , Harald Bluetooth ( the namesake of thewireless technology ) .
The new study is published in the journalScandinavian Economic History Review .
