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Archaeologists say single word inscribed on iron knife is oldest writing ever found in Denmark
Copenhagen — Archaeologists in Denmark have found a small knife inscribed with runic letters dating back almost 2,000 years, the oldest trace of writing found in the country, the Museum Odense said on Tuesday. Runic letters, called runes, are the oldest alphabet known in Scandinavia.
They were in use from the first or second century AD in northern Europe until being replaced by the Latin alphabet amid christianisation in the 10th century.
“The knife itself is not remarkable but on the blade there are five runes — which is extraordinary in itself — but the age of the runes is even more extraordinary because they actually are the oldest we have from Denmark,” archaeologist Jakob Bonde told AFP. “We don’t have any writing before this.”
Dating back to around 150 years AD, the iron knife was found in a grave in a small cemetery east of Odense, in central Denmark. A post on the museum’s Facebook page said the knife blade would go on display at its Montergarden museum from Feb. 2.
The five runic letters spell out the word “hirila,” which in the Proto-Norse language spoken at the time means “small sword.”
The inscription is a “note from the past,” Bonde said. “It gives us the opportunity to look more into how the oldest known language in Scandinavia developed… (and) how people interacted with each other.”
Bonde said “the person who owned it wanted to show he was, or wanted to be, some kind of warrior,” but in the museum’s Facebook post, it said archaeologists were unable to confirm whether the “small sword” label had referred specifically to the knife or its owner.
The first traces of human settlements in what is now Denmark date back to the Stone Age, around 4,000 BC, but there are no traces of any writing before the Roman Iron Age (0 to 400 AD).
A small comb made of bone discovered in 1865 and inscribed with runes dates back to around the same period as the knife, Bonde said.
When writing first appeared in Scandinavia, it was “only small inscriptions, mainly on objects.”
“We don’t have books for example, or bigger inscriptions,” he said.
Denmark’s most famous runestones, erected in the 10th century in the town of Jelling, have longer inscriptions. Strongly identified with the creation of Denmark as a nation state, they were raised by Harald Bluetooth, in honor of his parents King Gorm and Queen Thyra.
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How to watch the Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Detroit Lions game today: Livestream options, more
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It will be the Jacksonville Jaguars against the Detroit Lions in a game today. The game will be played at Ford Field in Detroit. The Jaguars will be looking to snap a three-game losing streak, coming into the game with a record of just 2-8. The Lions, meanwhile, have just lost once so far this season for an overall resume of 8-1. Their single loss this season was to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in September.
Keep reading to find out how and when to watch the Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Detroit Lions game today, even if you don’t have cable.
CBS, Paramount+ and CBS Essentials are all subsidiaries of Paramount Global.
How and when to watch the Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Detroit Lions game today
The Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Detroit Lions game will be played on Sunday, November 17, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET (10:00 a.m. PT). The NFL football game will air on CBS and stream on Paramount+ and the platforms featured below.
How and when to watch the Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Detroit Lions game without cable
While CBS is available with many basic cable packages, you don’t need to worry if you don’t have access. Whether you have cable or have completely cut the cord, the game will be available with a variety of other options. Just note that the below streaming options will require the use of an internet provider:
Paramount+: Watch CBS-aired NFL games without cable
With Paramount+ you’ll have multiple viewing options to choose from. You can catch NFL games on the Paramount+ Essential tier for just $7.99 each month or you can watch college football with a Paramount+ with Showtime subscription for $12.99 monthly. In addition to live streams of NFL games airing on CBS, you’ll get to watch additional live sporting events including NCAA college football, PGA Tour golf, soccer and more.
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Amazon Prime Video: Add Paramount+ to your existing subscription
Already have an Amazon Prime Video account? Simply add Paramount+ to your current subscription to watch all the CBS-aired NFL games in addition to Paramount+ originals. The same prices from above apply, depending on which tier you choose. Not sure which is best for you? Don’t worry. Both options come with a free seven-day trial that can help you decide.
Watch the Jaguars-Lions game on Amazon Prime Video.
Fubo: Watch the Jaguars-Lions game for free
If you’re looking for an inexpensive way to watch a variety of football games, Fubo could be the best way to do so. The live TV streamer is currently offering a seven-day free trial and $30 off of your first month’s subscription. Once subscribed, you’ll gain access to all of their live sporting events immediately. And there will be a lot to choose from. Not only does Fubo come with access to NFL games airing on your local CBS channel, it also includes Fox Sunday NFC games, “Sunday Night Football” on NBC, “Monday Night Football” on ABC and ESPN and all of the games that air on the NFL Network. So don’t wait.
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As the football season ramps up you may want to stock up on the latest NFL gear and merchandise. Fanatics is a great way to do so. With the latest player t-shirts, jerseys, hoodies and more, there’s plenty of stuff in stock to keep you covered this season. But don’t wait much longer. As each week in the season passes by competition for this limited merchandise will increase. Don’t wait for it to sell out.
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