Sweden - Rök, Rökstenen

Runestones are mostly raised stones with a runic inscription. These stones are often memorials to dead men and were usually brightly coloured when erected, though this is no longer evident as the colour has worn off. This tradition began in the 4th century and lasted into the 12th century. Most of them date from the late Viking Age and are located in Scandinavia (the majority however is found in Sweden, estimated around 2.000 of these stones).

The Rökstenen (Runestone in Rök) is the most famous runestone of Sweden. It features the longest known runic inscription of the world in stone with 760 characters. The text is considered to be one of the earliest examples of writing in the Old Swedish language and it marks the beginning of the history of Swedish literature.

The stone is almost four metres tall and was carved and erected most probably in the early 9th century, judging from the main runic alphabet used and the form of the language. Rökstenen is covered with runes on five sides; a few parts of the inscription are damaged, but most of it is readable.

In the 11th century the stone was used for the building of a church in Rök. Rökstenen was discovered in the late 19th century in the wall of the church and then was placed on the graveyard. In 1933 it became a shed, protecting the stone for decay. There is also an information centre next to the stone.