THERE are several more early runic inscriptions found on objects that may have been amulets, but they are carvings which often more clearly represent aspects of pre-Christian religious thought and belief. Many of these items might well have been similar to phylacteries then – i.e. items with inscriptions that were partly votive in nature rather than exclusively amuletic. These may still have been expressions which were thought to convey protective or remedying powers, however, in addition to their general sense of sacredness. There seems little other reason why an object like the Vimose buckle (considered at the outset of chapter 2) would bear such an obviously votive text, especially in light of other runeinscribed buckles like the more regularly amuletic Pforzen find. It may even be that the early Germanic brooches which appear to feature the names of old Germanic divinities should also be accorded the status of pagan phylacteries. But they seem best classed just as regular amulets given the dozens of more typical talismanic inscriptions of Iron Age and early medieval date found on similar items.

These more overtly religious or cultic inscriptions appear on all manner of items, from rune-stones to jewellery, other forms of personal accoutrement and even simple wooden objects. Often they are found without much discernable context and are creations that have not attracted the kind of comparative study that commoner objects have been subjected to.