Burestenen
Encyclopedia
Burestenen or Nolbystenen, listed in Rundata
as M 1, is a memorial runestone located in the Swedish
province
of Medelpad
.
's outlet into the Gulf of Bothnia
, south of Sundsvall
. The area has a unique concentration of historic and prehistoric artifacts. Burestenen lies beside the ruins of a manor
chapel
from the Early Middle Ages
. Also in the vicinity is a collection of Viking Age
graves and twelve large tumuli from the Swedish
Migration Period
, of which one is Norrland
's largest.
In addition to its runic
inscription, it has some cross
es marking the Christianization
of 12th century Medelpad. Based on its animal ornamentation, it is classified as being in Ringerike style
, runestone style Pr1, dated to c. 1020–1050. The inscription is signed by the runemaster
Fartägn.
The Old Norse text on the stone translates into English as:
Rundata
The Scandinavian Runic-text Data Base is a project involving the creation and maintenance of a database of runic inscriptions. The project's goal is to comprehensively catalog runestones in a machine-readable way for future research...
as M 1, is a memorial runestone located in the Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
province
Provinces of Sweden
The provinces of Sweden, landskap, are historical, geographical and cultural regions. Sweden has 25 provinces and they have no administrative function, but remain historical legacies and the means of cultural identification....
of Medelpad
Medelpad
' is a historical province or landskap in the north of Sweden. It borders to Hälsingland, Härjedalen, Jämtland, Ångermanland and the Gulf of Bothnia....
.
Description
Burestenen is located in the Kvissle-Nolby-Prästbolet region near the LjunganLjungan
Ljungan is a 322 kilometer long river in Sweden. It originates near Trondheim and the Norwegian border. The river runs through the Swedish counties of Jämtland and Västernorrland...
's outlet into the Gulf of Bothnia
Gulf of Bothnia
The Gulf of Bothnia is the northernmost arm of the Baltic Sea. It is situated between Finland's west coast and Sweden's east coast. In the south of the gulf lie the Åland Islands, between the Sea of Åland and the Archipelago Sea.-Name:...
, south of Sundsvall
Sundsvall
-External links:* - Official site from Nordisk Familjebok - Sundsvalls tourist information bureau. - The alternative guide to Sundsvall. - Blog with photos from Sundsvall....
. The area has a unique concentration of historic and prehistoric artifacts. Burestenen lies beside the ruins of a manor
Manor house
A manor house is a country house that historically formed the administrative centre of a manor, the lowest unit of territorial organisation in the feudal system in Europe. The term is applied to country houses that belonged to the gentry and other grand stately homes...
chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
from the Early Middle Ages
Early Middle Ages
The Early Middle Ages was the period of European history lasting from the 5th century to approximately 1000. The Early Middle Ages followed the decline of the Western Roman Empire and preceded the High Middle Ages...
. Also in the vicinity is a collection of Viking Age
Viking Age
Viking Age is the term for the period in European history, especially Northern European and Scandinavian history, spanning the late 8th to 11th centuries. Scandinavian Vikings explored Europe by its oceans and rivers through trade and warfare. The Vikings also reached Iceland, Greenland,...
graves and twelve large tumuli from the Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
Migration Period
Migration Period
The Migration Period, also called the Barbarian Invasions , was a period of intensified human migration in Europe that occurred from c. 400 to 800 CE. This period marked the transition from Late Antiquity to the Early Middle Ages...
, of which one is Norrland
Norrland
Norrland is one of the three lands of Sweden , the northern part, consisting of nine provinces. The term Norrland is not used for any administrative purpose, but it is common in everyday language, e.g...
's largest.
In addition to its runic
Runic alphabet
The runic alphabets are a set of related alphabets using letters known as runes to write various Germanic languages before the adoption of the Latin alphabet and for specialized purposes thereafter...
inscription, it has some cross
Christian cross
The Christian cross, seen as a representation of the instrument of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, is the best-known religious symbol of Christianity...
es marking the Christianization
Christianization
The historical phenomenon of Christianization is the conversion of individuals to Christianity or the conversion of entire peoples at once...
of 12th century Medelpad. Based on its animal ornamentation, it is classified as being in Ringerike style
Ringerike style
The Ringerike style is a Scandinavian animal style from the late 10th century and the 11th century, which evolved out of the earlier Mammen style. It has received its name from a group of runestones with animal and plant motifs in the Ringerike district north of Oslo. The most common motifs are...
, runestone style Pr1, dated to c. 1020–1050. The inscription is signed by the runemaster
Runemaster
A runemaster or runecarver is a specialist in making runestones.Most early medieval Scandinavians were probably literate in runes, and most people probably carved messages on pieces of bone and wood. However, it was difficult to make runestones, and in order to master it one also needed to be a...
Fartägn.
Inscription
A transliteration of the runic inscription is:- barksuain uk sihuastr uk friþi raistu stain þinsa * aftiR buri faþur isin * in farþaihn markaþi
The Old Norse text on the stone translates into English as:
- Bergsven and Sigfast and Fride raised this stone in memory of Bure, their father. Fartägn carved it.
External links
Medelpads runstenar- Photo of runestone - Swedish National Heritage Board