# Where do the Kensington rune forms and numerals come from? · Kensington Runestone > Three answers have been proposed. The forms come from the rune row in Eric Ström's 1876 textbook as transmitted among Swedish rune writers. leads, with… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/kensington-runestone/questions/QST0CT1HV342PKD/where-do-the-kensington-rune-forms-and-numerals-come-from Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:57:47+00:00 --- **0** # Where do the Kensington rune forms and numerals come from? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·Part of [When was the inscription carved?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/kensington-runestone/questions/QST0CT1HTVA12MW/when-was-the-inscription-carved)·3 answers·0·0 following **Most likely: the forms come from the rune row in Eric Ström's 1876 textbook as transmitted among Swedish rune writers** Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted. ## Where it stands Three answers have been proposed. The forms come from the rune row in Eric Ström's 1876 textbook as transmitted among Swedish rune writers. leads, with evidence 1 for: partly supported by its tests. Two are still possible. ## Why it matters The rune forms are the most testable evidence: either they occur in medieval inscriptions or they come from a later tradition⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CT1HM8C07C9/new-evidence-points-to-a-19th-century-origin-for-kensington)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CT1HMZT795C/samnordisk-runtextdatabas-scandinavian-runic-text-database). ## Answers 3 [**The forms come from the rune row in Eric Ström's 1876 textbook as transmitted among Swedish rune writers.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/kensington-runestone/answers/ANS0CT1HYGG73XY/the-forms-come-from-the-rune-row-in-eric-stroms-1876) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 1 for Most likely [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/kensington-runestone/answers/ANS0CT1HZ046CS7/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible [**The forms are medieval, including rare variants and pentadic numerals used in the fourteenth century.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/kensington-runestone/answers/ANS0CT1HY8P6MQD/the-forms-are-medieval-including-rare-variants-and-pentadic) Failed a test; not refuted outright Evidence: none yet Disputed ## History 1. 1919[Holand puts forward: the forms are medieval, including rare variants and pentadic numerals used in the fourteenth century.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CT1HJHP5BDF/the-kensington-rune-stone-the-oldest-native-document-of) 1. 2022[Colavito puts forward: the forms come from the rune row in Eric Ström's 1876 textbook as transmitted among Swedish rune writers.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CT1HM8C07C9/new-evidence-points-to-a-19th-century-origin-for-kensington) 1. 2022[Colavito: a contemporary review of the 1876 textbook describes strange letters and number signs that match the…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CT1HM8C07C9/new-evidence-points-to-a-19th-century-origin-for-kensington)For: The forms come from the rune row in Eric Ström's 1876 textbook as transmitted among Swedish rune writers. 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/kensington-runestone/questions/QST0CT1HV342PKD/where-do-the-kensington-rune-forms-and-numerals-come-from%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/kensington-runestone/questions/QST0CT1HV342PKD/where-do-the-kensington-rune-forms-and-numerals-come-from%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/kensington-runestone/questions/QST0CT1HV342PKD/where-do-the-kensington-rune-forms-and-numerals-come-from%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/kensington-runestone/questions/QST0CT1HV342PKD/where-do-the-kensington-rune-forms-and-numerals-come-from%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/kensington-runestone/questions/QST0CT1HV342PKD/where-do-the-kensington-rune-forms-and-numerals-come-from%23add-source) Where it fits Kensington Runestone [**When was the inscription carved?** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/kensington-runestone/questions/QST0CT1HTVA12MW/when-was-the-inscription-carved)Key question · The inscription was carved in Minnesota between about 1885 and 1898. [Does the weathering of the grooves show the inscription is old?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/kensington-runestone/questions/QST0CT1HVAY1BW1/does-the-weathering-of-the-grooves-show-the-inscription-is)Most likely · without a calibrated rate for this rock and setting, the weathering cannot date the carving **Where do the Kensington rune forms and numerals come from?** You're here · the forms come from the rune row in Eric Ström's 1876 textbook as transmitted among Swedish rune writers [ Ask a question under this one ]