c. 1020 – 1050

Characterisation of the style

As defined by Anne-Sofie Gräslund

Overall impression

Most often unresilliant and angular, although less so than in Pr 1. The rune animals are rather substantial, but there are also some thinner examples.

Head

Characterised by a concave line from ear to nose tip.

Eye

Round or drop formed, sometimes with a point in it.

Ear

High set, erect or slightly bent forward.

Mouth

Normally open, sometimes with a tongue, the upper lip and the nose tip strongly bent upwards. There is often a balance between the upward line of the ear and that of the nose. Distinct, round lip lappet. Marked lower lip in a semicircular bow.

Feet

Occur only seldom, slightly rounded on short legs.

Tail

Rolled up, often with a thickened end and a thumb-like protuberance downwards. The rolled tail and the protuberance generally correspond to the shape of the head.

Additional snakes

Occur seldom, a neck crest or a union knot is sometimes transformed into long tendrils, giving the same decorative impression as a snake.

Layout

One (sometimes two) rune animal(s) along the edge is the most typical layout.

Union Knot

Occur generally.

Cross

Very frequent.

Examples

Sources

Danske Runeindskrifter, http://runer.ku.dk

Gräslund, Anne-Sofie, 2006. ‘Dating the Swedish Viking-Age rune stones on stylistic grounds’. Runes and their Secrets – Studies in runology.

The Scandinavian Runic-text Data Base.

Sveriges runinskrifter.