List Of Runestones
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

There are about 3,000
runestones A runestone is typically a raised stone with a runic inscription, but the term can also be applied to inscriptions on boulders and on bedrock. The tradition began in the 4th century and lasted into the 12th century, but most of the runestones d ...
in Scandinavia (out of a total of about 6,000 runic inscriptions). p. 38. The runestones are unevenly distributed in Scandinavia: The majority is found in Sweden, estimated at between 1,700 and 2,500 (depending on definition). Denmark has 250 runestones, and Norway has 50. There are also runestones in other areas reached by the Viking expansion, especially in the
British Isles The British Isles are a group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean off the north-western coast of continental Europe, consisting of the islands of Great Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Inner and Outer Hebrides, the Northern Isles (O ...
( Manx runestones, Page, Raymond I. (1995).
Runes and Runic Inscriptions: Collected Essays on Anglo-Saxon and Viking Runes
'. Parsons, D. (ed.) Woodbridge: Boydell Press, 207–244
England runestones, Scotland and Ireland) and other islands of the North Atlantic (Faroes, Greenland, but not in Iceland), and scattered examples elsewhere (the
Berezan' Runestone The Berezan' Runestone ( X UaFv1914;47) was discovered in 1905 by Ernst von Stern, professor at Odessa, on Berezan' Island (also known as the Island of St Aitherios) where the Dnipro River meets the Black Sea. The runesto ...
in Eastern Europe, Pritsak, O. (1987). ''The Origin of Rus'.'' Cambridge, Mass.: Distributed by Harvard University Press for the Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute. Sawyer, Birgit. (2000).
The Viking-Age Rune-Stones: Custom and Commemoration in Early Medieval Scandinavia
'. Oxford:
Oxford University Press Oxford University Press (OUP) is the university press of the University of Oxford. It is the largest university press in the world, and its printing history dates back to the 1480s. Having been officially granted the legal right to print book ...
, p. 306.
and runic graffiti on the
Piraeus Lion The Piraeus Lion ( it, Leone del Pireo) is one of four lion statues on display at the Venetian Arsenal, Italy, where it was displayed as a symbol of Venice's patron saint, Saint Mark. History It was originally located in Piraeus, the harbour o ...
from Greece but today in Venice, Italy)."Runsten", ''
Nationalencyklopedin ''Nationalencyklopedin'' (; "The National Encyclopedia" in English), abbreviated NE, is a comprehensive contemporary Swedish language, Swedish-language encyclopedia, initiated by a favourable loan from the Government of Sweden of 17 million Swed ...
'' (1995), volume 16, pp. 91–92.
The vast majority of runestones date to the Viking Age and the period immediately following the Christianisation of Scandinavia (9th to 12th centuries). A small number predates the 9th century; one of the last runestones was raised in memory of the archbishop Absalon (d. 1201).Jansson 1997:166 A small number of runestones may date to the late medieval to early modern period, such as the Fámjin stone (Faroe Islands), dated to the Reformation period. Modern runestones (as imitations or forgeries of Viking Age runestones) began to be produced in the 19th century Viking Revival. The ''Scandinavian Runic-text Data Base'' (') is a project involving the creation and maintenance of a database of
runestone A runestone is typically a raised stone with a runic inscription, but the term can also be applied to inscriptions on boulders and on bedrock. The tradition began in the 4th century and lasted into the 12th century, but most of the runestones da ...
s in the '' Rundata'' database.


Elder Futhark runestones

The vast majority of runestones date to the
Viking Age The Viking Age () was the period during the Middle Ages when Norsemen known as Vikings undertook large-scale raiding, colonizing, conquest, and trading throughout Europe and reached North America. It followed the Migration Period The ...
. There is only a handful
Elder Futhark The Elder Futhark (or Fuþark), also known as the Older Futhark, Old Futhark, or Germanic Futhark, is the oldest form of the runic alphabets. It was a writing system used by Germanic peoples for Northwest Germanic dialects in the Migration Pe ...
(pre-Viking-Age) runestones (about eight, counting the transitional specimens created just around the beginning of the Viking Age). *
Årstad Stone The sequence ''alu'' () is found in numerous Elder Futhark runic inscriptions of Germanic Iron Age Scandinavia (and more rarely in early Anglo-Saxon England) between the 3rd and the 8th century. The word usually appears either alone (such as on t ...
(390–590 AD) *
Einang stone The Einang stone (''Einangsteinen'') is a runestone located east of the Einang Sound near Fagernes, in Oppland, Norway, notable for the age of its runic inscription. The Einang runestone is located within the extensive Gardberg site. It is p ...
(4th century) * Tune Runestone (250–400 AD) * Kylver Stone (5th century) * Möjbro Runestone (5th or early 6th century) * Järsberg Runestone (transitional, 6th century) * Björketorp Runestone (transitional, 7th century) * Stentoften (transitional, 7th century) *
Eggjum stone The Eggja stone (also known as the Eggum or Eggjum stone), listed as N KJ101 in the Rundata catalog, is a grave stone with a runic inscription that was ploughed up in 1917 on the farm Eggja in Sogndal, Nordre Bergenhus amt (now in Vestland county), ...
(8th century) * Rök runestone (transitional, ca. 800 AD) * Hogganvik runestone (350–500 AD)


Younger Futhark runestones


Scandinavia proper


Sweden

The number of runestones in Sweden is estimated at between 1,700 and 2,500 (depending on definition). The Swedish district of Uppland has the highest concentration with as many as 1,196 inscriptions in stone, whereas Södermanland is second with 391).Harrison, D. & Svensson, K. (2007). ''Vikingaliv''. Fälth & Hässler, Värnamo, p. 138. * Varangian Runestones – inscriptions that mention voyages to the East (''Austr'') or the Eastern route (''Austrvegr''). * Ingvar Runestones – 26 Varangian runestones that were raised in commemoration of those who died in the Swedish Viking expedition to the Caspian Sea of
Ingvar the Far-Travelled Ingvar the Far-Travelled (Old Norse Old Norse, Old Nordic, or Old Scandinavian, is a stage of development of North Germanic languages, North Germanic dialects before their final divergence into separate Nordic languages. Old Norse was spok ...
. * Serkland Runestones – six or seven runestones which are Varangian Runestones that mention voyages to Serkland, the
Old Norse Old Norse, Old Nordic, or Old Scandinavian, is a stage of development of North Germanic languages, North Germanic dialects before their final divergence into separate Nordic languages. Old Norse was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and t ...
name for the Muslim world in the south. * Greece Runestones – 29 Varangian runestones that talk of voyages to Greece, i.e. the
Byzantine Empire The Byzantine Empire, also referred to as the Eastern Roman Empire or Byzantium, was the continuation of the Roman Empire primarily in its eastern provinces during Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, when its capital city was Constantin ...
. * Viking Runestones – Stones that mention Scandinavians who participated in Viking expeditions in western Europe, and stones that mention men who were Viking warriors and/or died while travelling in the West. * Jarlabanke Runestones – a collection of 20
runestone A runestone is typically a raised stone with a runic inscription, but the term can also be applied to inscriptions on boulders and on bedrock. The tradition began in the 4th century and lasted into the 12th century, but most of the runestones da ...
s written in
Old Norse Old Norse, Old Nordic, or Old Scandinavian, is a stage of development of North Germanic languages, North Germanic dialects before their final divergence into separate Nordic languages. Old Norse was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and t ...
related to Jarlabanke Ingefastsson and his clan. * Frösöstenen *The Ramsund carving * Sparlösa Runestone * Rökstenen – the longest runic inscription in the world, located in the province of Östergötland in Sweden


=District of Hälsingland

= * Hälsingland Rune Inscription 21


=District of Medelpad

= *
Medelpad Rune Inscription 1 Burestenen ( en, Bure's Stone), or Nolbystenen, listed in Rundata as M 1, is a memorial runestone located in the Swedish province of Medelpad. Description Burestenen is located in the Kvissle-Nolby-Prästbolet region near the Ljungan's outlet in ...
* Medelpad Rune Inscription 18


=District of Småland

= * Småland Runic Inscription 99


=District of Skåne

= * Sjörup Runestone


=District of

Uppland Uppland () is a historical province or ' on the eastern coast of Sweden, just north of Stockholm, the capital. It borders Södermanland, Västmanland and Gästrikland. It is also bounded by lake Mälaren and the Baltic Sea. On the small un ...

= * Färentuna Runestones (U 20, U 21 and U 22) *
Broby bro Runestones At Broby bro in Uppland, Sweden there are six runestones. U 139, U 140 and U 151 still stand by the road, but U 135, U 136 and U 137 have been moved a distance away from the road. The last three stones are in the style Pr2 and thus dated ...
(U 135, U 136 and U 137) * Hagby Runestones (U 152, U 153, U 154 and U 155) * Lingsberg Runestones (U 240, U 241 and U 242) * Hargs bro runic inscriptions (U 309, U 310 and U 311) * Snottsta and Vreta stones (U 329, U 330, U 331 and U 332) *
Granby Runestone The Granby Runestone (Swedish: ''Granbyhällen''), designated as U 337 under the Rundata catalog, is one of the longest Viking Age runic inscriptions located in Uppland, Sweden. Description The Granby Runestone has a runic inscription carved o ...
(U 337) *
Näsby Runestone The Näsby Runestone, designated as U 455 under the Rundata catalog, is a Viking Age memorial runestone that is located in Näsby, Uppland, Sweden. Description The Näsby Runestone memorializes a family tragedy. It was raised by a man in remembra ...
(U 455) * Vaksala Runestone (U 961) *
Krogsta Runestone The Krogsta Runestone is a runestone designated as U 1125 in the Rundata catalog. The stone is located in Krogsta near , in Uppsala Municipality, Sweden, in the historic province of Uppland. It was first described by Johannes Bureus in 1594 ...
(U 1125)


=District Östergötland

= * Högby Runestone * Kälvesten Runestone * Ledberg stone


=District Gästrikland

= *
Gästrikland Runic Inscription 7 300px, Runestone Gs 7 in Torsåker, Sweden. Gästrikland Runic Inscription 7 or Gs 7 is the Rundata catalog number for a Viking Age memorial runestone located in Torsåker, Gävleborg County, Sweden, which was part of the historic province of G ...
(Gs 7)


Denmark

Denmark has a total of 250 known runestones. * Eltang stone *
Jelling stones The Jelling stones ( da, Jellingstenene) are massive carved runestones from the 10th century, found at the town of Jelling in Denmark. The older of the two Jelling stones was raised by King Gorm the Old in memory of his wife Thyra. The larger o ...
* Rimsø Runestone * Snoldelev Stone *
Sørup runestone The Sørup runestone (Danish language, Danish: ''Sørup-stenen'') is a runestone from Sørup close by Svendborg on southern Funen in Denmark. The stone has a relatively long and very debated runic inscription, which has been seen as an unsolved c ...


Norway

Norway has a total of 50 known runestones. * Dynna stone (11th century AD) * Fåberg stone *
Granavollen Runestone The Granavollen stone is a runestone located behind Nikolaikirken at Granavollen in Gran, Oppland county, Norway. This church is also known as one of the two medieval Sister Churches. The inscription is classified as being carved in runestone st ...
(11th century AD) *
Grindheim stone The Grindheim stone ( Norwegian: ''Grindheimsteinen'') is a runestone from Grindheim Church in Etne municipality in Hordaland, Norway. History The Vang stone was erected during the transitional period from Paganism to Christianity in Norway c ...
(11th century AD) *
Hønen Runestone Vinland, Vineland, or Winland ( non, Vínland ᚠᛁᚾᛚᛅᚾᛏ) was an area of coastal North America explored by Vikings. Leif Erikson landed there around 1000 AD, nearly five centuries before the voyages of Christopher Columbus and Jo ...
(11th century AD) * Klepp I Runestone * Kulisteinen (11th century AD) * Norwegian Runic Inscription 239 * Oddernes stone (11th century AD) * Vang stone (11th century AD)


North Atlantic


British Isles

* England Runestones – a collection of 30 runestones that refer to
Viking Age The Viking Age () was the period during the Middle Ages when Norsemen known as Vikings undertook large-scale raiding, colonizing, conquest, and trading throughout Europe and reached North America. It followed the Migration Period The ...
voyages to
England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe ...
, from Sweden, Norway and Germany. * Manx runestones: 26 surviving stones. Page 1983:227 * Princes Street Gardens Runestone, Edinburgh, Scotland


Faroe Islands

* Sandavágur stone (13th century) * Kirkjubøur stone (11th century) * Fámjin stone (16th century)


Greenland

* Kingittorsuaq Runestone


Other


Germany

Germany has a total of 4 known runestones. * Hedeby stones, Hedeby (10th century AD) * Sigtrygg Runestones (934 AD) * Stone of Eric (10th century AD)


Italy

*
Piraeus Lion The Piraeus Lion ( it, Leone del Pireo) is one of four lion statues on display at the Venetian Arsenal, Italy, where it was displayed as a symbol of Venice's patron saint, Saint Mark. History It was originally located in Piraeus, the harbour o ...
, coming from Greece and today in Venice * Sanctuary of Monte Sant'Angelo, Apulia (South Italy)


Ukraine

*
Berezan' Runestone The Berezan' Runestone ( X UaFv1914;47) was discovered in 1905 by Ernst von Stern, professor at Odessa, on Berezan' Island (also known as the Island of St Aitherios) where the Dnipro River meets the Black Sea. The runesto ...
, Berezan' Island


Image stones

*The Ardre image stones *The Stora Hammars stones and the Tängelgarda stone, Lärbro parish


Modern runestones

A number of notable runestones of modern origin exist. Some of them are intended as hoaxes, their creators attempting to imitate a Viking Age artefact. Especially since the late 20th century, runestones in the style of the Viking Age were also made without pretense of authenticity, either as independent works of art or as replicas as museum exhibits or tourist attractions."In December 1997 I moved to Adelsö, the Island there the kings lived in the viking period, near the Island of Birka ..My capabilities to live on my handicraft became bigger and I extend with guided tours in the ancient area, protected by UNESCO. On a piece of land, near this area, I build up my place of work and exhibition. ..The year 2000 I got honored to carve a runestone as a memory of Leif Eriksson who did the exploration of North America, thousand year ago. The runestone was carved here at Adelsö. When the work was completed, the stone transferred to Canada and became raised at the northern point of Newfoundland / Vineland." (Kalle Dahlberg
runstonecarver.com
"The three types of contemporary runestone carvings highlighted in the article are those that are "exact copies of existing stones", "explicitly contemporary", and "new, but with Old Norse"."

2012)
This concerns especially runestones found in North America. There is also a limited set of early modern runestones created after the end of the Viking Age but before the " Viking Revival". * Kensington runestone * Narragansett Runestone *
Oklahoma runestones A number of runestones have been found in Oklahoma. All of them are of modern origin dating to the 19th century "Viking revival" or being produced by 19th-century Scandinavian settlers. The oldest find is the "Heavener Runestone," first documented ...
* Vérendrye stone * Spirit Pond Runestone


References

{{Runestones *
Runestone A runestone is typically a raised stone with a runic inscription, but the term can also be applied to inscriptions on boulders and on bedrock. The tradition began in the 4th century and lasted into the 12th century, but most of the runestones da ...
Runestones A runestone is typically a raised stone with a runic inscription, but the term can also be applied to inscriptions on boulders and on bedrock. The tradition began in the 4th century and lasted into the 12th century, but most of the runestones d ...
Archaeological corpora