The stone that became the foundation

The stone that became the foundation

Discovered in a church during an excavation, a Viking Age runestone now stands as a foundation stone in the town hall of Åhus, playing a vital role in its history and identity.

In July 1965, during an excavation of Älleköpings kyrka, a Viking Age runestone was discovered. Now known as Älleköpingestenen, it served as a foundation stone, its exact purpose remaining unknown. Swedish historian L. Cnattingius found it was used in this manner. The restored runestone now stands proudly in front of the town hall in Åhus, with dimensions of approximately 12 feet 2 inches * 4 feet 1 inch * 1 foot 6 inches (319 cm * 104 cm * 50 cm). It is now an integral part of the village’s history and identity.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons

Written by Nik Frost

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