Chekshturina V. Runic sign as a means of symbol communication: theoretical methodological aspect.

The thesis is dedicated to the runic symbol communication. The state-of-the-art of this problem in the theory and practice of social communications has been analyzed. A runic sign has been the object of scientific investigations during the last 400 years. It is a well-known fact that a runic sign has been used on the territory of Eurasia since II century AD. During the first century a runic sign was actively used as a means of written and symbol communication. After the XIIth century it has been gradually substituted with other means of written communication, continuing to exist as a means of symbol communication among certain subcultures. However the bearers of a runic signs (Vikings' stones, bracteates, coins, melee weapon ornament and so on) remain the treasury of a thousand year old history. The phenomenon of a runic sign has been studied by historians, archeologists, linguists, culture experts, fine art experts. The findings of runic artifacts all over the territory of Eurasia contributed to the emergency of scientific centres studying runic inscriptions in Sweden, Germany, Norway, Denmark, Great Britain, Baltic countries, Russia, Kazakhstan. The findings of runic-like signs made by Ukrainian scientists on the territory of Ukraine (National reservation "Kam'iana mohyla" (Zaporizhzhia region), centres of Trypillian culture, Verhniy Saltiv (Kharkiv region)) make the need to conduct a special investigation concerning studying the peculiarities of the usage of runic-like signs as the means to fix information in the process of symbol communication actual.