Nos. 13 and 20 are justly attributed to the times of the Crusaders,[4] but many of the other inscriptions must have been engraved by different persons at different times. Professor Stephens believes that most of them are of a much earlier date than the twelfth century, and this opinion is much strengthened by the worn appearance of some of the Runes, and the uncertain character of others. Some of the proper names cannot be read as certainly correct, owing to the marks and abrasures in the stones. Two of them, Orki and Oframr, are supposed to be hitherto quite unknown, and may therefore perhaps be referred to the earlier inhabitants of the How, whilst Gawkr and Trandill both belong to an historical person in Iceland. The other names are common, and known from Runic inscriptions, as well as from ancient manuscripts and documents. The name Ingibiorg, occurs several times in the Orkneyinga Saga, and was by no means an uncommon name in Orkney. Ingibiorg, the widow of earl Thorfinn (who died in 1064) afterwards married Malcolm, king of Scotland; but it cannot be safely asserted that this was the Ingibiorg mentioned in No. 8. On the whole, it seems not unreasonable to suppose that all the names found inscribed on the walls may belong to persons who lived since the construction of the barrow, and that we have as yet no certain evidence to justify us in determining either the name of the builder, or the period when the tumulus was first erected. Most of the inscriptions are in the subjoined form of the later Runic alphabet, or the "Norwegian division of the Scandinavian Runes" as described by Professor Munch. The dots inside the B, and G, do not occur here, and the [rune] (y) is not often used. [Illustration: Alphabet] In the earlier or "Gothic" Alphabet, many of the letters are quite different. READINGS OF THE INSCRIPTIONS BY PROFESSORS STEPHENS, MUNCH, RAFN. [Sidenote: _Plate VII._] No. I. THATIR VIKINKR . . . A, KOM, VTIR, HIR, TIL. _Thatir the Viking, came here to weary--(perhaps from the sea, or from battle.)_ The inscription is incomplete, several letters being obliterated. The a in the Bind-rune Ak is probably the termination of the word Fra, from.--Professor STEPHENS. THATIR VIKINKR . . . KOMUTIRHIRTIL. _That which the Wicing . . . came outerly here to._ This is only a fragment, some of the letters being obliterated. It may mean that a pirate or Wicing had been at the tumulus and found something, or that some person had found what the Wicing had left. It may however be merely the name of some person, as Vikingr is sometimes used as a Christian name.--Professor MUNCH. THAT IR VIKINGR . . . A KOM UT IRHIRTIL. _This is a Viking . . . come out is hereto._ The inscription is incomplete. Vikingr may be the name of a man.--Professor RAFN. No. II. MOLFR KOLBAINSSONR RAEIST RUNA THESA GHAUT. _Molf Kolbainsson carved these Runes to Gaut._ Probably a memorial to a comrade who had fallen in battle.--Professor STEPHENS.