(AP) – Archaeologists in Norway announced Tuesday that they
have discovered an ancient artifact believed to be the oldest of
its kind with inscriptions dating back 2,000 years.

The runestone, a flat, brown sandstone block covered in
scribbles, is believed to contain some of the earliest words
recorded in Scandinavia, the Museum of Cultural History
in Oslo, Norway, told the Associated Press. Those words,
the museum noted, are “among the oldest runic inscriptions
ever found” while the artifact itself is believed to be “the
oldest datable runestone in the world.”

Researchers inspect a runestone found at Tyrifjorden,
Norway, on Jan. 12 at the Museum of Cultural History
in Oslo.