The Elder Futhark The oldest of the Runic alphabets dates back nearly 2,000 years and examples of this written language can be found in lands ranging from Europe to parts of Asia, and some have even been discovered in North Africa and on the North American continent. The Norse, a culture of legendary might, had a staggering influence on the development of other cultures they encountered, many of whom adopted versions of the Futhark into their own written language. The Romans who both conquered, …