Runestone U 643
February 20, 2020
The carvings of the stone are in the runestone style Pr 4 (c. 1070-1100) pertaining to the Urnes style.
Though the inscription is not signed, it is attributed to the runemaster Fot and his apprentice Torgöt for stylistic reasons.
The granite stone is c. 2,27 m tall and 1,33 m wide. The decoration is 1,34 m tall and 1,10 m wide.
Runic inscription
The rune text begins at the head/tail end of the animal.
Runes
× ᚴᚢᛚᛅᛁᚠᚱ × ᛅᚢᚴ × ᚴᛅᚱ × ᛚᛁᛏᚢ × ᚱᛅᛁᛋᛅ × ᛋᛏᛅᛁᚾ × ᛂᚠᛏᛁᚱ × ᛅᚾᛏᚢᛁᛏ × ᚱᛅᚢᚦᛅ × ᚠᛅᚦᚢᚱ ᛫ ᛋᛁᚾ ×
Transliteration
× kulaifr × auk × ka(r) × litu × raisa × stain × eftir × antuit × rauþa × faþur * sin ×
Old Norse
GullæifR ok Karr letu ræisa stæin æftiR Andvett Rauða, faður sinn.
English
Gulleifr and Kárr had the stone raised in memory of Andvéttr the Red, their father.
Notes
Andvéttr is also mentioned on U 644 and U 645 which has been raised by him and his four brothers in memory of their father, Gunnleifr.
Gulleifr is named after his grandfather, Gunnleifr, and Kárr after their father’s brother, Kárr.
Andvéttr’s son, Gulleifr, must have been born after the death of his grandfather, Gunnleifr, to be named after him in accordance with the tradition of the time.
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Ekilla Bro, Uppland, Sweden
U 643