Runestones are stones with runic inscriptions. The eldest runestones, inscribed with Elder Futhark inscriptions, date from the 4th century. However, the most of the runestones were created during the late Viking Age and thus inscribed with the Younger Futhark runes. The runestones were usually erected to commemorate one or several deceased kinsmen, and in most cases these people died at home peacefully. Usually, men raised or commanded raising a runestone, while some of them are raised by women, usually widows of the deceased. It is believed that runestones were brightly colored. Nowadays, most of them are painted with falu red, Swedish deep red paint known for its use on wooden cottages and barns. The vast majority of the runestones are located in Scandinavia, but they can be found at all places reached by the Norsemen during the Viking Age: from the Isle of Man to Berezan’ in the Black Sea region. It is interesting, however, that not a single runestone is known to be found in Iceland. Runestones were erected at assembly locations, near roads, bridges and fords. Only a few of them are explicitly not Christian, like the Stenkvista runestone in Södermanland, Sweden, which has an image of Thor’s hammer on it. In Uppland about 70% of runestones are engraved with crosses or prayers and thus are clearly Christian. The same is true for about half of the runestones in other places. Runestones marked territory, explained inheritance, and told about important events. They remain one of the most striking traces left from the Viking Age.
Runestone U 164 (Uppland, Sweden)
Located at the causeway known as Jarlabanke’s bridge. The inscription reads: “Jarlabanki had these stones raised in memory of himself while alive, and made this bridge for his spirit, and (he) alone owned all of Täbyr. May God help his spirit.”
Photo by Mararie. Used under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.
Runestone U 165 (Uppland, Sweden)
Like the previous stone, located at the causeway known as Jarlabanke’s bridge. The inscription reads: “Jarlabanki had these stones raised in memory of himself while alive, and made this bridge for his spirit … owned all of Täbyr.”
Photo by Mararie. Used under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.
Haninge runestone (Handen, Metropolitan Stockholm)
Located at the entrance to the cultural centre at Poseidon’s Square in Handen. The inscription reads: “Anund and … raised this stone in memory of Vikinge their father, Stori’s son.”
Photo by Stefan Jansson, all rights reserved. Used by permission.
U FV1976;107 (Uppland, Sweden)
The inscription reads: “…Bjôrn and Brandr had the stone raised in memory of Karlungr, their father; and Ketilbjôrn in memory of (his) brother. Œpir carved the runes.”
Photo by Mararie. Used under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.
Runestone Dr 284 of the Hunnestad Monument
Photo by Luigi Santos-Hammarlund, all rights reserved. Used by permission.
Runestone U 151 (Uppland, Sweden)
Located at Kaby. The inscription reads: “Þorbjôrn and Ingiþóra had this stone raised in memory of Ígull, their father; and Erinvé in memory of her husbandman and in memory of …”
Photo by Mararie. Used under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.
Lingsberg runestone, U 240 (Uppland, Sweden)
The inscription reads: “Danr and Húskarl and Sveinn and Holmfríðr, the mother and (her) sons, had this stone erected in memory of Halfdan, the father of Danr and his brothers; and Holmfríðr in memory of her husbandman.”
Photo by Berig. Used under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Generic license.
Runestone Sö 111 (Södermanland, Sweden)
Located at Stenkvista. The inscription reads: “Helgi and Freygeirr and Þorgautr raised the rune-decorated landmark in memory of Þjóðmundr, their father.”
Photo by Berig. Used under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Generic license.
Runestone U 212 (Uppland, Sweden), side A
Located at the church of Vallentuna, but it is not known where its original location was. Inscription on side A reads: “Jarlabanki had this stone raised in memory of himself while alive. He alone owned all of Täbyr. May God help his spirit.”
Photo by Mararie. Used under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.
Runestone U 152 (Uppland, Sweden)
Located on the courtyard of the farm Hagby. The inscription reads: “Holmfríðr had this stone raised in memory of Bjôrn, her husbandman and in memory of Sighvatr, her son.”
Photo by Berig. Used under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Generic license.
