Rúnsteinar

Rúnsteinar is the Icelandic term for runestones, upright stones bearing inscriptions carved in runic alphabets from the Viking Age and the early medieval period in Scandinavia. The word combines runa (rune) and steinn (stone). In Icelandic usage the plural is rúnsteinar and the singular is rúnsteinn.

Runestones are most numerous in Sweden, with several thousand known examples, and are also found in Denmark and Norway. They date roughly from the 8th to the 12th centuries, with the majority produced in the 9th to 11th centuries. Inscriptions are typically carved in runic scripts, most often the Younger Futhark, though earlier or regional variants appear in some stones. The stones served diverse purposes, commonly commemorating deceased relatives, recording grants or deeds, marking territory, or asserting status and lineage. In many cases the inscriptions are supplemented by pictorial motifs or Christian symbols such as crosses.

Content and language of the inscriptions provide valuable evidence for onomastics, linguistics, and social history. Formulaic phrases often identify the sponsor and the person commemorated, sometimes noting who raised the stone or where it was erected. Artistic styles vary, with some stones featuring elaborate carvings and sometimes depictions of ships, warriors, or intertwined beasts. Iceland has relatively few runestones compared with mainland Scandinavia, reflecting different historical and cultural developments.

Rúnsteinar remain key sources for runology and Norse archaeology, helping illuminate memory, religion, and social structure in medieval Scandinavia. Notable examples include the Jelling stones in Denmark and the Rök Runestone in Sweden.