Wasted $200 on that 'Viking rune stone' kit from the museum gift shop

I bought this supposed authentic rune stone carving kit at the British Museum last month for $200. The box had fancy old Norse designs on it and a whole story about how Vikings used these for messages. I spent a whole Sunday trying to chisel my name into a rock with the included tools. The 'rune guide' was just a cheap photocopy from some random website. And the stone itself? It was basically a flat piece of concrete from a garden center. I could have bought a real historical replica online for $30. Has anyone else fallen for these overpriced souvenir scams at archaeology sites?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_ruby1mo ago

OH MAN I got HOSED by the exact same kit last year! The concrete rock crumbled all over my patio and the "chisel" bent after 3 taps. Felt like such a sucker hauling that heavy box home from the museum gift shop.

kelly_hill1mo ago

Think that was a dig kit for kids, not a grown-up one. The box says ages 8 and up on the bottom. My nephew got the same one and it worked fine for him.