30 Amazing Vintage Photographs of People Posing With Runestones in Sweden

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. Runestones served a variety of purposes beyond simply marking a grave. They were not typically placed at a burial site but rather in prominent locations like along roads, at bridges, or near farms to be seen by many people.

The most common purpose was to commemorate a deceased family member, friend, or loved one. The inscriptions often detail who the stone was for, who raised it, and their relationship to the deceased. Raising a runestone also was a way for a family or an individual to display their wealth, social standing, and piety. Some stones were even raised by individuals for themselves, a form of self-aggrandizement.

The surge in runestone creation during the 11th century coincided with the transition from Norse paganism to Christianity. Many runestones prominently feature a Christian cross and a prayer for the soul of the deceased, demonstrating the family's new faith. In some regions, like Uppland, the tradition may have been particularly strong because the conversion to Christianity was more prolonged.

The runestone tradition began in the 4th century, but the vast majority of the over 3,000 extant runestones in Scandinavia date from the late Viking Age (c. 950–1100 CE), with a remarkable concentration in Sweden.

Early runestones (4th–5th centuries) in Sweden and Norway were often placed near graves, but their exact function is debated. They were sometimes inscribed with the Elder Futhark, an older, 24-character runic alphabet.

The tradition became widespread in Denmark around 970 CE after King Harald Bluetooth erected the large Jelling Stone to commemorate his parents and his conversion of the Danes to Christianity. This act sparked a "runestone wave" that spread northward into Sweden.

The runestones from the Viking Age typically use the Younger Futhark, a 16-character runic alphabet. The inscriptions are often arranged within an ornate band, which frequently takes the shape of a serpent, dragon, or other quadruped. When they were first erected, these stones were brightly painted, though the colors have since worn off.

By the 12th century, the tradition of raising runestones faded as Latin letters and church inscriptions became dominant. Many runestones were later reused in churches, bridges, and buildings, though many have since been recovered and preserved.

Research assistant and archaeologist Hans Hildebrand, (Director General of the Swedish National Heritage Board in 1879-1907) sitting beside the Rök Stone, 1872. The runestone – covered with nearly 750 runes – was raised in the 9th century AD by Varin in memory of his dead son Vämod. The Rök Stone is also one of several Historical Sites in trust of the Swedish National Heritage Board.

Man at a boulder in the sea at Brantevik in Scania, with a runic inscription from 1873.

The Curman children with their french governess at a runestone at the Antuna estate, Sweden, 1880. The inscription reads, “Gerlak had … in memory of Häming, his son; and Ärnmund in memory of Holmfrid, his wife, and in memory of Una/Unna, (his) daughter.”

Three girls at a runestone on Ströbo meadow at Herrstaberg, ca. 1880s. The inscription reads, “Vibern raised this stone in memory of Solva, his brother.”

Three children at a flat piece of rock with a runic inscription, near Risinge Church, 1893. The inscription was made in 1678 by Eric Bruzaeus, the vicar’s son in Risinge. It says only that the runes were carved in this year.

Men at the Sigurd carving on the Ramsund rock, 1897. The Viking Age carving depicts the Old Norse Sigurd saga, about the hero Sigurd who killed the dragon Fafner. The inscription reads, “Sigrid , Alríkr’s mother, Orm’s daughter, made this bridge for the soul of Holmger, father of Sigröd, her husbandman”. The men in the photo are, from left: Louis Améen, okänd ung man, Gunnar Andersson and Selim Birger.

Feast to celebrate the mending an reerection of a runestone in Hassmyra, 1900. The inscription reads, “The good husbandman Holmgöt had (the stone) raised in memory of Odendisa, his wife. There will come to Hassmyra no better housewife, who arranges the estate. Rödballe carved these runes. Odendisa was a good sister to Sigmund.”

Men at a runestone in Ballstorp, Edsvära, 1900. The inscription reads, “Utlage raised this stone in memory of Öjvind, a very good tegn”. A “tegn” might be a peasant proprietor, yeoman farmer or a warrior.

Man at runestone in Västerby, Sorunda, 1900. The inscription reads, “Gudbjörn and O-….had this stone raised in memory of Vidjärv, their father.”

Boy and man at runestone with animal figure, at Kärna Church, 1907. Only two runes remains of the inscription.

A runestone where it was found at Stora Dalby on Adelsö island, 1917. The inscription reads, “May this stone stand in memory of Öpir...”

A student with a runestone in the Anundshög prehistoric area in Badelunda, 1918. The inscription reads, “Folkvid raised all of these stones in memory of his son Heden, Anund’s brother. Vred cut the runes.”

Linguist and runologist Otto von Friesen stands between medieval gateposts on the island of Gotland, 1923. The left gatepost reads, “Olav of Suders made us.”

Gunnel Hamner, daughter of photographern J.W. Hamner, poses with runestones at Stenkumla church on the island of Gotland, 1923. One stone reads, “Botmund and Botraiv and Gunnvat, they raised the stone... farm and sat in the south with the skins. And he met his end at Ulvshale...” while the other reads, “Botmund and Botraiv and Gunnvat they raised this stone... their father. May God and God's mother help his soul better than we could pray...”

Boys with a prehistoric rock carving from the Bronze Age (ca. 1800-500 BC) in Stora Herrebro, 1924.

A man stands with a runestone in Odensala, 1925. The stone reads, “Ulv and Härbjörn and Näsbjörn and Häming had the stone raised in memory of Borgulv, their father.”

A girl with a runestone in Lejsta, 1926. The inscription reads, “Vigdjärv and Jorund and Sigbjörn had the stone raised in memory of Svartung, their father.”

Harald Faith-Ell and Elias Wessén paint in the runes of the Sigurd carving on the Ramsund rock, 1928. The Viking Age carving depicts the Old Norse Sigurd saga, about the hero Sigurd who killed the dragon Fafner. The inscription reads, “Sigrid, Alríkr’s mother, Orm’s daughter, made this bridge for the soul of Holmger, father of Sigröd, her husbandman.”

Elias Wessén and Harald Faith-Ell apply paint to the runes of a stone at Kungshållet, 1929. The stone reads, “Alrik, Sigrid’s son, raised the stone in memory of his father Spjut, who had been in the west, broken down and fought in townships. He knew all the journey's fortresses.”

A girl with a teddy bear at a runestone in Söderby, Botkyrka, 1930. The inscription reads, “Sibbe and Tjarve had the stone raised in memory of Torkel, their father.”

Runic inscription on a rock by the Södertälje Bay north of Kiholm, 1930. The linguist and professor Elias Wessén is filling in the inscription, which reads, “Odbjörn and Sigbjörn and Gudbjörn, those brothers had this stone cut in memory of Björn, their hale father.”

A girl stands at a flat rock with a runic inscription in Skillinge, 1931. The inscription reads, “Atfare and Torgils had the runes carved in memory of Horse, their father, and in memory of Vidfare, their brother.”

A runestone at a farm in Törnby, Uppland, 1934. The inscription reads, “Ofeg and Sigmar and Fröbjörn they raised [the stone] in memory of Jörund, their father, Gunna’s husbandman. Ärnfast cut these runes.”

Girls pose next to an inscribed rock near a farm in Uppland, 1934. The inscription reads, “Kale had this rock-slab cut in memory of his brother Tärv, and Munde in memory of his kinsman-by-marriage.”

An inscribed boulder in Södra Sätra, Sollentuna called “Jarlabanke’s stone,” 1934. The inscription reads, “Häming and Jarlabanke they had the path cleared and the bridges made in memory of their father; and Estrid in memory of her sons Ingefast and Ingvar. May God help their spirits.”

Woman sweeping a flat rock with a runic inscription, 1935. It’s situated in Viby north of Stockholm. The inscription says: “Kale had this flat rock carved in memory of his two sons, and he and Ingetora made a bridge, a great memorial before many men.”

Girl in the snow by a fragment of a runestone, found att Ekbacken north of Lissma lake in Huddinge, 1935. The inscription reads, “…Gerfast(?)”

Men at the restoration of a runestone at the churchyard in Sal, 1936. The inscription says: “Torgård (or Torgärd) placed this stone in memory of Tóki, his/her kinsman-by-marriage.”

A man works on restoring a cracked runestone at Svedjorna in Södra Ving, 1936. The inscription reads, “Tole and Torny made these monuments in memory of Tore and Klakke, their sons.”

Picture stones at a farmstead in Änge in Buttle on the island of Gotland, 1937.