A team of researchers from Stockholm University and the University of Oslo is utilizing 3D scanning technology to document runic graffiti in Gotland’s medieval churches. While Gotland is famous for its Viking-age picture stones, this study focuses on over 500 runic inscriptions carved into the walls and plaster of roughly 60 stone churches during the 12th to 15th centuries. Using handheld scanners and photogrammetry, the team is creating digital records of these faint markings, which range from names and prayers to cryptic symbols. This digital inventory allows scholars to analyze the carvings without the risk of damaging the fragile limestone surfaces or relying on outdated, subjective hand-drawings.
This project is significant because it challenges the narrative that runes were a strictly pagan or pre-Christian tradition. The digital models reveal that runes remained a living script long after the official conversion to Christianity, often coexisting with Latin inscriptions. The use of high-resolution 3D modeling and gaussian splats provides a way to visualize surface textures that are nearly invisible to the naked eye under standard lighting. By manipulating virtual light sources on these point clouds, researchers can identify specific tool marks and determine if certain inscriptions were made by the same hand, providing a new layer of data for understanding medieval literacy and the social use of sacred spaces.
The project aims to integrate these 3D models into a broader digital archive that would be accessible to the international research community. This effort highlights how lidar and photogrammetry are revolutionizing archaeology by preserving hidden heritage that is vulnerable to environmental erosion or modern renovations. The data collected will help historians understand the regional identity of Gotland, an island that served as a critical trade hub where Norse traditions met continental European influences.
Read More: https://www.medievalists.net/2026/02/runic-gotlands-medieval-churches/
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