Visiting R 99 14

This post is part of a bigger trip I made through Scandinavia with focus on Norway.

A curse

The stone ship of Ales Stenar was already something special. But now the region offered something even more mystical – a runestone with a curse from the 7th century. The runestone of Björketorp is part of a setting of three large stones that form a triangle. They are located a little off the street in the forest. The main one is more than 4 meters high which makes it the second highest runestone of Sweden.

3 gray tall, slim stones set up in a triangle, trees in the background
The runestone with the curse is the one in the middle

The curse is engraved with runes. They have been colored in red to be better visible (similar to the carvings of Alta) for us today.

Closeup of the stone, uneven surface, 3 lines of red rune letters
Part of the front with the longer text

Depending of which information you take the curse goes like this:

Wikipedia:

  • I, master of the runes(?) conceal here runes of power. Incessantly (plagued by) maleficence, (doomed to) insidious death (is) he who breaks this (monument).
  • I prophesy destruction / prophecy of destruction.

Information board next to the site itself:

  • The series of honorable runes hid here, mighty runes. Restless of argiu (sexually submissive male), death by cunning, whom breaks it.
  • I predict ruin.
Closeup of the stone, uneven surface, 1 line of red rune letters, more visible that they are engraved
Back with shorter text

Let’s say, you should better not mess with the runestone. It is for sure different from texts you would usually expect on such stones.

The stone circle

If you look around and follow the small path into the forest you will reach a stone circle, most probably from the Iron Age. The area is supposed to be a burial site. This circle might have been some kind of assembly place as well. I love to imagine how people were meeting there.

Clearing with trees and bushes around, 7 smaller stones in a circle

Some travel tips (from 2021)

  • The rune stones are next to the highway which makes it a good stopover.
  • There is a small parking lot next to the street also suitable for camper vans.

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