EDITORIAL NOTE

Abstract

Cover image: Thyre Dannebod grundlægger Dannevirke (Thyra Dannebod establishes the Danevirke), Lorenz Frølich, 1855. Color illustration for the fourth edition of the 1914 book Illustreret Danmarkshistorie for Folket (Illustrated history of Denmark for the people, original black and white).

In 2023, Queen Thyra once again became the focal point of Viking Age researchers. An ongoing interdisciplinary investigation has unveiled several novel insights into the renowned queen, particularly in relation to the Jelling II runestone (DR 42, 10th century AD) and other runestones. Runologist Lisbeth Imer, in collaboration with archaeologists Kitzler Åhfeldt and Henrik Zedig, employed 3D typology research to ascertain that the master carver of the Jelling runestones, as well as those from Læborg and Bække in southern Jutland, was Ravnunge-Tue. The identification of the individual responsible for the inscriptions was achieved through a comparative analysis of the shape, depth, and language of various runestones. Additionally, the presence of the name "Thyra" in the latter two runestones solidified her identity as the wife of King Gorm, the father of Harald Bluetooth—the inaugural unifier and principal Christianizer of Denmark. These research findings were officially published in October 2023 (Imer; Åhfeldt; Zedig, 2023, pp. 1262-1278).