Vadstena and Mariedamm bracteates
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The Vadstena bracteate (Rundata Ög 178) and the Mariedamm bracteate (Nä 10) are a gold C-bracteates found in the earth at Vadstena in 1774 and Mariedamm, in Närke, respectively.
When the Vadstena bracteate had been found a goldsmith was about to recycle the gold by melting the bracteate but was stopped by a local clergyman. The bracteate is believed to have been minted at the end of the 6th century. In the middle of the bracteate is a four-legged animal with a man's head above it, and in front of this a bird separated from the other image by a line. (The image is commonly associated with Odin in bracteate iconography) The bracteate is most famous for containing a full listing of the Elder Futhark Runic alphabet. The entire inscription reads:
- tuwatuwa; fuþarkgw; hnijïpzs; tbemlŋo[d]
The last rune (d) is hidden below the necklace holder piece that has been molded on top of the bracteate, but archaeologists know what it is because a duplicate bracteate was found in Mariedamm, southern Närke (image) which read:
- (t)uwatuwa; fuþarkgw; hnijïpzs; tbemlŋod
The first part of the inscriptions is not yet understood but is assumed to be associated with magic.
Both bracteates are presently stored at the Swedish Museum of National Antiquities.
