One of the ancient Viking runestone records

One of the ancient Viking runestone records

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries these images remind us that history is not simply written in books The Swedish landscape is home to over 2,500 Viking runestones each carved with the stories of warriors and important figures Black-and-white photographs from this era capture moments when people stood beside these stones. Many reflect the deep roots of legend and gaze upon the same inscriptions carved by their ancestors Links to Viking runestones from this era are resurfacing throughout Sweden with the recording of ancient runestones

Viking Runestones

Viking beliefs and artifacts that remain as memorials to their rulers have endured for centuries Thirty of the so-called Runstones of Eastern Europe the Byzantine Empire and the Middle East are discussed separately in the article Varangian Runestones The tradition of erecting runestones to commemorate the dead began in the 4th century and continued until the 12th century but most surviving runestones date primarily to the late Viking Age In Scandinavia particularly in Sweden runestones are also found in areas inhabited by the Norse

White stone rune inscriptions Viking Runestones

Early medieval Germanic culture has its origins in the Old Norse people of Scandinavia Runestones are typically brightly colored when erect Runestones are typically raised stones inscribed with runes but the term can also refer to inscriptions on stone and solid rock For example Viking runes are runes referring to Scandinavians who participated in Viking expeditions This article will discuss runes referring to individuals who participated in expeditions throughout Western Europe and runes referring to Viking warriors and/or men who died while exploring the West.