Jelling and the Danish Runestones
About 260 Danish runestones from the Viking Age are known, which were raised from about 800–900, until around 1025. It is thought that the tradition of raising runestones for deceased relatives possibly originated in Blekinge (which was a Danish territory at the...
Customized Runic Jewelry
Links AARS and Lakselaget
AARS enjoys the opportunity to reach out to cultural organizations with what may be new insight into their Scandinavian heritage. Presentations on the subject of runes led to a true linking of old and new for an enthusiastic women’s organization, Lakselaget. Founded...
Individuals Commemorated Selves in ‘Selfie’ Stones
... at sik sjalfa[n kvi]kvan ... ... in memory of himself while alive ... So reads part of the surviving inscription on the runestone U 962, which was discovered built into the wall of Vaksala church, not far from Uppsala. The stone dates to between 1100 and 1130,...
Congratulations to Uppsala University’s Leadership
By Loraine Jensen on behalf of the AARS Board of Directors. Uppsala University and the AARS have had a long and happy partnership working together with the goal of expanding knowledge about runic script throughout Scandinavia and North America. Two individuals at...
Verse on Runestones
Viking Age runestones most often contain a memorial formula for deceased relatives, but did you know that some are formulated as poetry? Probably the most famous runestone with a poetic inscription is the Karlevi runestone (Öl 1), on the Swedish island of Öland. The...
Sigurd the Dragon-Slayer
Near Ramsund in the area around Eskiltuna in Södermanland, one can find a rather famous Swedish runic carving. This is the site of the Ramsund carving (Sö 101), which also happens to be one of the largest runic monuments. The carving is not a free-standing...
Fulbright Sweden Interrupted by COVID-19
Of course, I was disappointed by the news, but in spite of this, I am truly encouraged that my activities as a Fulbright Specialist, both fulfilled and planned, will lead to informative and inspiring runic learning opportunities for both children and adults. During my...
Loraine Jensen Named Fulbright Specialist
AARS founder and president Loraine Jensen was named to a prestigious Fulbright Specialist appointment to pursue the study of runestones in Sweden during the spring of 2020. Based at Uppsala University, Loraine will conduct field studies, engage in research,...
U-Haul and the Kensington Runestone
Drive down just about any United States interstate highway and you are likely to see one of the 2,300 U-Haul 20-foot vans that have a Minnesota “SuperGraphic” highlighting a Viking ship. The display is to commemorate the Kensington Runestone (KRS) in...
Fulbright Sweden
It’s Sunday, March 1 and I just arrived in Uppsala, Sweden, to begin my Fulbright Specialist assignment at Uppsala University.My project is titled: "Viking Age Runic Studies: Education and Outreach." The project will provide opportunities for me to research how...