Kylver Stone, Norse runestone in Stånga, Gotland, Sweden
The Kylver Stone is a limestone slab with inscriptions oriented toward the interior of a burial site. Its carved surface stands about 2.3 meters tall and holds text from the earliest Germanic period.
The stone dates to the fifth century and was found in 1903 during excavations near an old farmsite. It holds the oldest known complete sequence of Elder Futhark runes from that period.
The stone displays special runic forms with mirrored characters that reflect Norse religious beliefs of its era. These symbols were part of the protective and magical practices that people valued then.
The stone can be seen at the Swedish Museum of National Antiquities in Stockholm, where it is kept under protective measures. Conservation work ensures that the carved inscriptions remain visible and legible for visitors.
The stone bears the word 'sueus,' which may refer to the Suiones, an ancient Germanic people from the region. This term might connect to how the country Sweden got its name.
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