Björketorp Runestone: Encyclopedia - Björketorp Runestone

Björketorp Runestone

The Björketorp Runestone (DR 360 U) in Blekinge, Sweden, is part of a grave field which includes menhirs, both solitary and forming stone circles.

It is one of the world's tallest rune stones measuring 4.2 metres in height, and it forms an imposing sight together with two high uninscribed menhirs.

Björketorp Runestone - Inscription

The runes were made in the 6th or the 7th century and in Proto-Norse (a similar message is given on the Stentoften Runestone). It is found on two sides. The shorter message appears to say "I foresee perdition" or "prediction of perdition". The message of the other side is also debated.

• A: hAidz runo ronu fAlAhAk hAiderA ginArunAz ArAgeu hAerAmAlAusz utiAz welAdAude sAz þAt bArutz
• B: uþArAbA sbA

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Björketorp Runestone - Analysis

Most scholars date the inscription to the 7th century and it is carved with a type of runes that form a intermediate version between the Elder Futhark and the Younger Futhark. A characteristic example of this is the a-rune which has the same form as the h-rune of the younger futhark. This is the rune that is transliterated with A. The k-rune, which looks like a Y is a transition form between and in the two futharks. There are quite few intermediary inscriptions like this one. Three more are known from Blekinge, i.e. the Stentoften Runestone, the Istaby Runestone and the Gummarp Runestone, which was moved to Copenhagen and lost in the fire of Copenhagen in 1728.

The Stentoften, Istaby and Gummarp inscriptions can be identified with the same clan through the names that are mentioned on them, and the names are typical for chieftains. The Björketorp Runestone lacks names and is raised some tens of km from the others. However, it is beyond doubt that the Björketorp runestone is connected to them, because in addition to the special runic forms, the same message is given on the Stentoften Runestone.

It is obvious that the runestones are not carved by the same man, and so it appears that the runestone reflects a specific rune tradition in Blekinge during the 7th century.

However, scholars are not in agreement on the purpose of the runestone. It has been suggested that the runestone is a grave and that the curse is intended to protect it. However, in 1914, there were archaeological excavations which did not present any finds neither by the runestone nor in the stone circle. To counter this, it has been suggested that the runestone is a Cenotaph, i.e. a memorial far from the real burial. A second suggestion is that it was a shrine for Odin or for fertility. A third suggestion is that the runestone marks a border between the Swedes and the Daner.

Björketorp Runestone - Tradition

This runestone has been described as early as the 15th century. A local legend relates that the curse was once tested and proved. A very long time ago, a man wanted to remove the stone so as to get more land to cultivate. He piled wood around it in order to heat it up and then crack it with water. The weather was dead calm and there was no wind. He had just lit the fire when a sudden gust of wind turned the direction of the flame setting the man's hair on fire. He threw himself on the ground to extinguish it, but it spread to his clothes and the poor man died in terrible agony. However, the fire around the rune stone was extinguished as if an enormous hand had enveloped the stone and smothered the fire.

See also

• Rundata

Björketorp Runestone - Bibliography

• Jacobsen, Lis & Moltke, Erik: Danmarks runeindskrifter. 1941.
• Thorngren, Karl-Gösta: Runstenar i Blekinge. Blekingeboken 1942. pp. 63-96.
• Barddal, Jóhanna: Björketorpstenens "utiar weladaude". Sydsvenska ortnamnssällskapets årsskrift 1998. pp. 7-16.

Categories: Runestones | Runic inscriptions | Blekinge | Curses

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Björketorp Runestone", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki