Bjälbostenen: A granite runestone with a medieval message

The runic stone, known as Bjälbostenen, stands outside Bjälbo church in Bjälbo socken and Mjölby kommun in Östergötland. Originally, the stone was built into the foundation wall of the sacristy. It was later freed and moved to its current location outside on the churchyard.

Made of granite, the stone stands 320 cm tall, 50 cm wide, and 50 cm thick. The carving consists of a compressed, unshaped runic loop in the RAK style and lacks other ornamentation. The text on the stone is the oldest written evidence available of the medieval guilds.

Translated from the runes, the inscription reads: 'Käcke män reste denna sten efter Grep, sin gillesbroder, Juddes son. Love ristade dessa runor.' This translates to: 'Käcke män raised this stone after Grep, his guild brother, Juddes son. Love carved these runes.'

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons