Remnants of the Vikings' glorious past still adorn the landscapes of the countryside in Sweden, Norway and Denmark. One of the richest in runic stones is the Swedish province of Uppland, where thousands of ancient monuments with inscriptions carved on them have been preserved. These unique artifacts serve as a window into the Viking world.
Runic stones had a deep meaning for their creators. They were often erected in memory of deceased relatives or friends, but they were not tombstones in the usual sense.
Instead, these boulders were usually placed near roads or communication routes, symbolizing the importance of communication and connection between the world of the living and the world of the dead. In addition, such stones often served as markers of territories or reminded of significant events in the life of communities.
It was believed that the oldest runic stones date from the 4th century, the most recent: from the 19th century. However, at the beginning of January 2023, in Norway, archaeologists found the world's oldest runic stone, the inscriptions on which are up to 2000 years old and belong to the earliest days of the history of runic writing.
Most of the runestones are located in Scandinavia, others are scattered in places visited by Scandinavians during the Viking Age.
Photographs from the Swedish National Heritage Board, taken between 1899 and 1945, record the recovery and excavation of these runestones. On them, you can see how local residents pose next to these monuments with respect and admiration. These photos show not only archaeological works, but also a keen interest in one's own historical heritage.
Today, Sweden has about 2,500 runestones, which continue to be symbols of ancient history and culture. They are reminders of the past and remain an important part of the modern cultural landscape.
rarehistoricalphotos.com
Source:
rarehistoricalphotos.com
viking.archeurope.com
geschichte-scandinavian.de
