Broby bro Runestones, Archaeological site with runestones in Vallentuna, Sweden.
Broby bro Runestones is an archaeological site made up of six runestones spread across the Vallentuna area of Sweden. Three of the stones still stand in their original positions along the roadside, while the others have been moved to sheltered spots nearby to protect them from traffic damage.
The stones were carved between 1020 and 1050 and belong to the Jarlabanke group, named after the family of a matriarch called Estrid. This group of stones was raised during the final decades of the Viking Age, when families in the Vallentuna region used runestones to mark their lineage.
The inscriptions name family members and mention journeys to Jerusalem and the Byzantine Empire, giving a personal face to people who lived here around a thousand years ago. Reading the carved names along the roadside feels like meeting real individuals from a distant past.
Some of the stones stand directly by the road and are easy to reach on foot, while the others are located a short walk away. Allowing extra time to find each stone is a good idea, as they are scattered across the area rather than grouped together.
These stones are part of Runriket, a region around Lake Vallentunasjön that holds the highest density of runestones found anywhere in the world. Traveling through the area, a visitor can spot dozens more stones standing along old roads and field edges.
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