List of runestones
Encyclopedia
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 but most of them date from the late Viking Age
, and it lasted into the 12th century.
District of Uppland
, are all surrounded by controversy regarding their originality:
Viking Age
Viking Age is the term for the period in European history, especially Northern European and Scandinavian history, spanning the late 8th to 11th centuries. Scandinavian Vikings explored Europe by its oceans and rivers through trade and warfare. The Vikings also reached Iceland, Greenland,...
, and it lasted into the 12th century.
Image stones
- The Ardre image stoneArdre image stoneThe Ardre image stones are a collection of ten rune and image stones, dated to the 8th to 11th centuries, that were discovered at a church in Ardre, which is about four kilometers north of Stånga, Gotland County, Sweden.-Description:...
s - The Stora Hammars stones and the Tängelgarda stoneTängelgarda stoneThe image stone at Tängelgårda, Lärbro parish, Gotland, Sweden is decorated with a scene of warriors holding rings, one horsed, with Valknut symbols drawn beneath.-External links:...
, LärbroLärbroLärbro is a locality situated in Gotland Municipality, Gotland County, Sweden with 521 inhabitants in 2005. It is located in the north app. 10 km away from Slite. There was a train connection from 1921 to 1960 with Visby, the main place of the island. The main sight of the place is the Lärbro...
parish
Elder Futhark runestones
- Einang stoneEinang stoneThe Einang stone is a runestone located near Fagernes, Norway, notable for the age of its runic inscription.-Description:The Einang stone bears an Elder Futhark inscription in Proto-Norse that has been dated to the 4th century...
(4th century) - Kylver StoneKylver StoneThe Kylver stone, listed in the Rundata catalog as runic inscription G 88, is a Swedish runestone which dates from about 400 CE notable for its listing of each of the runes in the elder futhark.-Description:...
(5th century) - Björketorp RunestoneBjörketorp RunestoneThe Björketorp Runestone in Blekinge, Sweden, is part of a grave field which includes menhirs, both solitary and forming stone circles....
(transitional, 7th century) - StentoftenStentoften RunestoneThe Stentoften Runestone, listed in the Rundata catalog as DR 357, is a runestone which contains a curse in Proto-Norse that was discovered in Stentoften, Blekinge, Sweden....
(transitional, 7th century) - Eggjum stoneEggjum stoneThe Eggja 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, Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway.-Description:...
(8th century) - Rök RunestoneRök RunestoneThe Rök Runestone is one of the most famous runestones, featuring the longest known runic inscription in stone. It can now be seen by the church in Rök , Östergötland, Sweden...
(transitional, ca. 800) - Tune Runestone (250-400)
Younger Futhark runestones
- England RunestonesEngland RunestonesThe England runestones is a group of about 30 runestones that refer to Viking Age voyages to England. They constitute one of the largest groups of runestones that mention voyages to other countries, and they are comparable in number only to the approximately 30 Greece Runestones and the 26 Ingvar...
- a collection of 30 runestones that refer to Viking AgeViking AgeViking Age is the term for the period in European history, especially Northern European and Scandinavian history, spanning the late 8th to 11th centuries. Scandinavian Vikings explored Europe by its oceans and rivers through trade and warfare. The Vikings also reached Iceland, Greenland,...
voyages to EnglandEnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, from Sweden, Norway and Germany.
Sweden
- Varangian RunestonesVarangian RunestonesThe Varangian Runestones are runestones that mention voyages to the East or the Eastern route , or to more specific eastern locations such as Garðaríki ....
- inscriptions that mention voyages to the East (Austr) or the Eastern route (Austrvegr). - Ingvar RunestonesIngvar RunestonesThe Ingvar Runestones is the name of c. 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....
- 26 Varangian runestones that were raised in commemoration of those who died in the Swedish Viking expedition to the Caspian SeaCaspian expeditions of the RusThe Caspian expeditions of the Rus were military raids undertaken by the Rus' between 864 and 1041 on the Caspian Sea shores. Initially, the Rus' appeared in Serkland in the 9th century traveling as merchants along the Volga trade route, selling furs, honey, and slaves. The first small-scale raids...
of Ingvar the Far-TravelledIngvar the Far-TravelledIngvar the Far-Travelled was the leader of an unsuccessful Viking attack against Persia, in 1036–1042.There were several Caspian expeditions of the Rus' in the course of the 10th century...
. - Serkland Runestones - six or seven runestones which are Varangian RunestonesVarangian RunestonesThe Varangian Runestones are runestones that mention voyages to the East or the Eastern route , or to more specific eastern locations such as Garðaríki ....
that mention voyages to SerklandSerklandIn Old Norse sources, such as sagas and runestones, Særkland or Serkland was the name of the Abbasid Caliphate and probably some neighbouring Muslim regions....
, the Old NorseOld NorseOld Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
name for the Muslim world in the south. - Greece RunestonesGreece RunestonesThe Greece runestones are about 30 runestones containing information related to voyages made by Norsemen to the Eastern Roman Empire. They were made during the Viking Age until about 1100 and were engraved in the Old Norse language with Scandinavian runes...
- 29 Varangian runestones that talk of voyages to Greece, i.e. the Byzantine EmpireByzantine EmpireThe Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
. - Viking RunestonesViking RunestonesThe Viking Runestones are runestones that mention Scandinavians who participated in Viking expeditions. This article treats the runestone that refer to people who took part in voyages abroad, in western Europe, and stones that mention men who were Viking warriors and/or died while travelling in the...
- 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 RunestonesJarlabanke RunestonesThe Jarlabanke Runestones is the name of c. 20 runestones written in Old Norse with the Younger Futhark in 11th century, Uppland, Sweden.They were ordered in the by what appears to have been a chieftain named Jarlabanke Ingefastsson and his clan , in Täby...
- a collection of 20 runestones written in Old NorseOld NorseOld Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
related to Jarlabanke Ingefastsson and his clan. - Järsberg RunestoneJärsberg RunestoneThe Järsberg Runestone is a runestone in the elder futhark near Kristinehamn in Värmland, Sweden.-Inscription:It contains the following runic text as transliterated into Latin letters:As translated into English:...
- One of the oldest runestones in Sweden from 6th century located in Järsberg, KristinehamnKristinehamnKristinehamn is a locality and the seat of Kristinehamn Municipality, Värmland County, Sweden with 17,836 inhabitants in 2005.- Geography :Kristinehamn is situated by the shores of lake Vänern... - Frösöstenen
- The Ramsund carving
- Sparlösa RunestoneSparlösa RunestoneThe Sparlösa Runestone, listed as Vg 119 in the Rundata catalog, is located in Västergötland and is the second most famous Swedish runestone after the Rök Runestone.-Description:...
- Rökstenen - the longest runic inscription in the world, located in the province of Östergötland in Sweden
District of UpplandUpplandUppland is a historical province or landskap 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...
- Färentuna RunestonesFärentuna RunestonesThe Färentuna runestones are 11th century runestones labelled U 20, U 21, and U 22 in the Rundata catalog that are located in Färentuna, Uppland, Sweden. Runestones U 20 and U 21 were registered separately although they come from the same original runestone and consequently are called U 20/21...
(U 20, U 21 and U 22) - Broby bro RunestonesBroby bro RunestonesAt 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....
(U 135, U 136 and U 137) - Hagby RunestonesHagby RunestonesThe Hagby Runestones are four runestones that are raised on the courtyard of the farm Hagby in Uppland, Sweden. They are inscribed in Old Norse using the Younger Futhark and they date to the 11th century...
(U 152, U 153, U 154 and U 155) - Lingsberg RunestonesLingsberg RunestonesThe Lingsberg Runestones are two 11th century runestones, listed as U 240 and U 241 in the Rundata catalog, and one fragment, U 242, that are engraved in Old Norse using the younger futhark and located at the farm at Lingsberg, which is about two kilometers northeast of Vallentuna, Stockholm...
(U 240, U 241 and U 242= - Hargs bro runic inscriptionsHargs bro runic inscriptionsThe Hargs bro runic inscriptions, or U 309, U 310 and U 311, are 11th century Younger Futhark inscriptions in Old Norse on bedrock in Skånela Parish, Uppland, Sweden....
(U 309, U 310 and U 311) - Snottsta and Vreta stonesSnottsta and Vreta stonesThe Snottsta and Vreta stones are individual runestones known as U 329, U 330, U 331 and U 332. They are found on the homesteads of Snottsta and Vreta, and they tell in Old Norse with the younger futhark about the family story of Gerlög and Inga in 11th century Uppland, Sweden, together with the...
(U 329, U 330, U 331 and U 332) - Granby RunestoneGranby RunestoneThe Granby Runestone , designated as U 337 under the Rundata catalog, is the longest Viking Age runic inscription located in Uppland, Sweden.-Description:...
(U 337) - Vaksala RunestoneVaksala RunestoneThe Vaksala Runestone, designated as U 961 under the Rundata catalog, is a Viking Age memorial runestone that is located in Vaksala parish near Uppsala, Sweden.-Description:...
(U 961)
American rune stones
The following rune stones, found in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, are all surrounded by controversy regarding their originality:
- The Kensington RunestoneKensington RunestoneThe Kensington Runestone is a 200-pound slab of greywacke covered in runes on its face and side which, if genuine, would suggest that Scandinavian explorers reached the middle of North America in the 14th century. It was found in 1898 in the largely rural township of Solem, Douglas County,...
is located at Alexandria, MinnesotaAlexandria, MinnesotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 8,820 people, however the most recent count suggests a population upwards of 10,000, which is displayed on Alexandria's city limits signs. The census lists 4,047 households, and 2,011 families residing in the city. The population density was 992.5 people per...
. - The Heavener RunestoneHeavener RunestoneThe Heavener Runestone is an inscribed stone located in Heavener, Oklahoma. The land on which it sits is now a state park on Poteau Mountain, just outside the town limits. The origin of the stone's runic carvings is disputed.-News:...
and others associated with it, in and around Heavener, OklahomaHeavener, OklahomaHeavener is a city in Le Flore County, Oklahoma, United States. It is part of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 3,201 at the 2000 census.-Heavener Runestone:...
. - The Vérendrye RunestoneVérendrye RunestoneThe Vérendrye Runestone was allegedly found on an early expedition into the territory west of the Great Lakes by the French Canadian explorer Pierre Gaultier de Varennes et de La Vérendrye, in the 1730s...
, found near Minot, North DakotaMinot, North DakotaMinot is a city located in north central North Dakota in the United States. It is most widely known for the Air Force base located approximately 15 miles north of the city. With a population of 40,888 at the 2010 census, Minot is the fourth largest city in the state...
. - The three Spirit Pond runestonesSpirit Pond runestonesThe Spirit Pond runestones are three stones with runic inscriptions, allegedly found at Spirit Pond in Phippsburg, Maine in 1971 by a Walter J. Elliott, Jr., a carpenter born in Bath, Maine. The stones, currently housed at the Maine State Museum, are widely dismissed as a hoax or a fraud...
, found in Phippsburg, MaineMaineMaine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, in 1971. - The Leif Eriksson RunestoneNomans Land (Massachusetts)Nomans Land is an uninhabited island 612 acres in size, located in the town of Chilmark, Dukes County, Massachusetts, USA...
found on a small island off the coast of MassachusettsMassachusettsThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
in 1926.