The Björketorp Runestone (DR 360 U) (image) 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 hight, and it forms an imposing sight together with two high uninscribed menhirs.

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 ):

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

Transcription:

HaidR runo runu, falh'k hedra ginnarunaR. Argiu hermalausR, ... weladauþe, saR þat brytR. Uþarba spa.

Translation:

Here, I have hidden the secret of powerful runes, strong runes. The one who breaks this memorial will be eternally tormented by anger. Treacherous death will hit him. I foresee perdition.

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.

External links

• A scholarly presentation by Foteviken
• A neo-pagan site

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.