Gunderup Runestone 1, Norse runestone at Gunderup Church, Denmark
The Gunderup Runestone 1 is a granite monument standing in the porch of Gunderup Church, featuring two sections of runic text carved in straight bands across its surface. This registered cultural monument remains accessible for public viewing.
Created between 900 and 960, the runestone commemorates Api, Toki's stepfather, and his mother Tófa. The inscription provides evidence of inheritance customs involving stepparents during the Viking period.
The inscription names Api as a thegn, a title appearing on roughly fifty runestones across Denmark and Sweden that signals social rank. This designation reflected important standing in Viking society.
Located roughly 20 kilometers south of Aalborg, the runestone sits within the church porch and is easy to find. Visitors can view the monument during standard church access times.
This is one of only two runestones in Denmark honoring both parents, offering rare insight into inheritance laws involving stepparents. This combination makes the monument particularly valuable for understanding family structures during the Viking age.
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