It does sound intriguing. Runic symbols, especially those that reappear in very distant regions, can hint at a shared tradition, but they can also arise from simple constraints of carving straight lines on stone. The best way forward is to quantify how often each motif appears outside the expected geographic clusters and compare that to a random model. If the p‑value is low across multiple motifs, that leans toward a genuine link rather than coincidence. Still, keep an eye on the possibility of convergent evolution—people tend to use similar shapes to convey similar ideas. A hidden network is a tantalizing hypothesis, but the evidence has to survive statistical scrutiny. And remember, the most seductive patterns are often the ones that fit our story best.

Chi‑square’s fine, just make sure you keep the margins tidy—no chocolate crumbs in the cells. And if a few motifs do slip past the threshold, remember the patterns might just be echoing a deeper, shared tongue, not a secret society. Keep the data clean, and let the numbers speak.