Editing Runestone (section)

==Distribution==
[[File:Rune stone density-km2-Sweden.svg|thumb|upright|Distribution of runestones in Sweden, the country with the highest density. Runestones / 100&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>:
{{legend|#910F00|>10}}{{legend|#CF2600|5–9}}{{legend|#D9753B|1–4}}{{legend|#CCA89E|<1}}{{legend|#D9D9D9|Lacks runestones}} ]]
There are about 3,000 runestones among the about 6,000 runic inscriptions in Scandinavia.<ref name="Zilmer38"/> There are also runestones in other parts of the world as the tradition of raising runestones followed the Norsemen wherever they went, from the [[Isle of Man]] ([[Manx Runestones]]) in the west to the [[Black Sea]] in the east ([[Berezan' Runestone]]), and from [[Jämtland]] in the north to [[Schleswig]] in the south.<ref name="national"/>

The runestones are unevenly distributed in Scandinavia: Denmark has 250 runestones, Norway has 50 while Iceland has none.<ref name="forskning.no">
{{cite web
 |last=Olstad
 |first=Lisa
 |title=Ein minnestein for å hedre seg sjølv
 |publisher=forskning.no
 |date=2002-12-16
 |url=http://www.forskning.no/artikler/2002/desember/1039779970.6
 |access-date=2008-04-20}}</ref> Sweden has between 1,700<ref name="forskning.no"/> and 2,500<ref name="Zilmer38">Zilmer 2005:38</ref><ref name="Harrison192"/> depending on definition. The Swedish district of [[Uppland]] has the highest concentration with as many as 1,196 inscriptions in stone, whereas [[Södermanland]] is second with 391.<ref name="Harrison192"/>

Outside of Scandinavia, the Isle of Man stands out with its 30 runestones from the [[9th century]] and early 11th century.<ref name="page">Page 1995: 207–44</ref> Scattered runestones have also been found in England, Ireland, [[Scotland]] and the [[Faroe Islands]].<ref name="Zilmer38"/> With the exception of the [[Berezan' Runestone|runestone on Berezan']], there are no runestones in [[Kievan Rus'|Eastern Europe]], which probably is due to a lack of available stones and the fact that the local population probably did not treat the foreigners' stones with much respect.<ref name="Pritsak306">Pritsak 1987:306</ref>

Runestones were placed on selected spots in the landscape, such as [[thing (assembly)|assembly locations]], roads, bridge constructions, and fords. In medieval churches, there are often runestones that have been inserted as construction material, and it is debated whether they were originally part of the church location or had been moved there. In southern [[Scania]], runestones can be tied to large estates that also had churches constructed on their land. In the [[Mälaren Valley]], the runestones appear to be placed so that they mark essential parts of the domains of an estate, such as courtyard, [[grave field]], and borders to neighbouring estates. Runestones usually appear as single monuments and more rarely as pairs. In some cases, such as the [[Hunnestad Monument]], they are part of larger monuments together with other raised stones.<ref name="national"/>

Although scholars know where 95% of all runestones were discovered, only about 40% were discovered in their original location. The remainder have been found in churches, roads, bridges, graves, farms, and water routes.<ref>Sawyer, B. 2000:26</ref> On the other hand, scholars agree that the stones were not moved very far from their original sites.<ref name="Zilmer39">Zilmer 2005:39</ref>

===Effect of religion===
[[File:Sö 111, Stenkvista.jpg|right|thumb|upright|The [[Stenkvista runestone]] in Södermanland, Sweden, shows [[Mjölnir|Thor's lightning hammer]] instead of a cross. Only two such runestones are known.<ref name="Larsson176">Larsson 1999:176</ref>]]

In many districts, 50% of the stone inscriptions have traces of Christianity, but, in Uppland, which has the highest concentration of runic inscriptions in the world, about 70% of the 1,196 stone inscriptions are explicitly Christian, which is shown by engraved crosses or added [[Christian prayer]]s, and only a few runestones are not Christian.<ref name="Harrison192"/>

Scholars have suggested that the reason why so many Christian runestones were raised in Uppland is that the district was the focal point in the conflict between [[Norse paganism]] and the newly Christianized [[Monarchy of Sweden|King of Sweden]]. It is possible that the chieftains tried to demonstrate their allegiance to the king and to display their Christian faith to the world and to God by adding Christian crosses and prayers on their runestones. What speaks against this theory is the fact that Norway, Denmark, and [[Götaland]] did not have any corresponding development in the runestone tradition. Moreover, not a single runestone declares that there was any relationship towards the king.<ref name="harrison195">Harrison & Svensson 2007:195</ref> Additionally, the runestones appear to show that the conversion was a rather peaceful process.<ref name="Jansson120">Jansson 1987:120</ref>

According to another theory, it was a social fashion that was popular among certain clans, but not among all of them.<ref name="harrison195"/> Once some clans in southern Uppland [[Risbyle Runestones|had begun to raise runestones]], neighbouring clans [[Jarlabanke Runestones|emulated them]]. However, in parts where these clans were less influential, the runestone raising did not reach the same popularity.<ref name="Harrison195ff">Harrison & Svensson 2007:195ff</ref> Several scholars have pointed out the long Viking expeditions and the considerable amassment of wealth in the district. At this time, Swedish chieftains near Stockholm had created considerable fortunes through trade and pillaging both in the East and in the West. They had seen the Danish [[Jelling stones]] or they had been inspired by Irish [[high cross]]es and other monuments.<ref name="Harrison192"/>

The runestones show the different ways in which Christianity changed Norse society, and one of the greatest changes involved no longer burying the deceased on the clan's [[grave field]] among his ancestors. Instead, he was buried in the cemetery of the church,<ref name="Jansson116">Jansson 1987:116</ref> while the runestone would serve as a memorial at the homestead,<ref name="Jansson118">Jansson 1987:118</ref> but for certain families, there was less change as they had churches built adjoining the family grave field.<ref name="Jansson119">Jansson 1987:119</ref>