The runestone of Åsmund Kåresson

The Ölstastenen once occupied a space near the Eriksgata, a road that the Swedish king travelled after having been elected at the Stone of Mora in order to be accepted by his subjects. In 1896, the founder of Skansen, Artur Hazelius, purchased the stone for 50 Swedish kronor and moved it to Skansen near Stockholm.

Detailed carvings in the Urnes style decorate the surface, characterized by slim and stylized lindworms interwoven into tight patterns. The animal heads are seen in profile with slender, almond-shaped eyes and upwardly curled appendages on the noses and necks. These carvings identify the work of the runemaster Åsmund Kåresson, who was active during the first half of the 11th century in Uppland. He signed more than twenty inscriptions, including the one at Uppsala Cathedral, using the statement en Asmundr hio or "and Ásmundr cut".

In 1991, the Swedish Rune Authority colorized the stone as an experiment to see how well it would protect the stone from moss and the weather. It is believed that the colorization will protect this stone for at least 50 years to come.

This runestone remains at Skansen to this day. Visitors can see the complex lindworm patterns and the work of a craftsman whose inscriptions are listed across the region.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons