The spearhead was recovered from a grave on the Øvre Stabu farm in Østre Toten, Innlandet, one of two graves excavated at the site. It measures 28 cm in length. The runes are incised using a zig-zag technique and are partly obscured by corrosion.

Eight runes run along the blade, ᚱᚨᚢᚾᛁᛃᚨᛉ, reading raunijaz (N KJ31). The word is Proto-Norse for “tester” or “prober,” cognate with Norwegian røyne, “to try.” Whether this was the name of the weapon itself or of its owner remains unresolved.

The Øvre Stabu spearhead is among the oldest runic inscriptions currently known.