runstenar

Runstenar, or runestones, are monumental stones raised in the Nordic world that bear runic inscriptions. The majority date from the Viking Age and the early medieval period, roughly from the 4th to the 12th centuries, with the greatest concentration in what is now Sweden, Denmark and Norway. The stones were often erected to memorialize a deceased person, commemorate a family or public figure, mark land or boundaries, or convey religious or political messages. Inscriptions are usually in Old Norse and written in runic alphabets, most commonly the Younger Futhark in later stones; earlier stones used the Elder Futhark or variants. Many inscriptions mention kinship, major life events, voyages, or battles; in the late period Christian crosses or references to baptism appear.

The stones vary in size and material, typically granite or sandstone, and are carved with runes arranged along the face and often accompanied by decorative figures such as entwined serpents, beasts and knotwork. Some stones were erected in prominent places such as road sides, burial mounds, or churchyards. They were sometimes part of larger commemorative landscapes or legal settlements, reflecting social status and local power.

Today runestones are studied as key sources for language, religion and social structure in Norse society. A large number have been preserved in situ or moved to museums. The most famous examples include the Jelling stones (Denmark), commemorating the Danish king and Christianization, and the Rök stone (Östergötland, Sweden), noted for its long, enigmatic inscription. Scholarly work since the early modern period has expanded understanding of their origins, meanings and regional variations.