Runic inscription:

f a h u th u

The word seems to be complete, a whole word.

The word is unique and does not appear on any previously known runestone. The word does not appear to be known in Old Swedish either, but is found in Gotland dialects.

The Icelandic word fága is close at hand, meaning to take care of, decorate, adorn, clean, nurture, groom and cultivate.

History

In the fall of 2015, I was contacted by a private individual on Färingsö who said he had found a piece of runestone. I have visited supposed runestones before and they are usually already known rune carvings or something created by nature.

But this time it was really a runestone, or rather a fragment of a runestone made of red sandstone. The carved band clearly showed the runes f a h u þ u, but interpreting these was more difficult.

I sent pictures and information to Magnus Källström at "Runverket" on Riksantikvarieämbetet, (National Antiquities Board) who immediately visited the farm and the runestone. At the same time, I received the preliminary interpretation of the word and its meaning that I described above..

An exciting story...

The find site, which is located right next to the Ting site, and some small details on the runestone itself form the basis for a very exciting theory and story...

The fact that the runestone was found nearby and within sight of what is today called the gallows hill (medieval) but which is adorned with two impressive runestones (Viking period) does not only make the interpretation better.

The fact that the croft Tingsstaden (read the courthouse house) is also located very close makes everything even more exciting.

Up here on the hill, the mighty runestones U 37 and U 38 still stand today on the site of the Thing. Between the stones in the picture towards the forest you can see the farm Lisselby.

I believe (if the preliminary interpretation remains when the "Runverket" releases its report) that the runestone was erected by or for the person who was the caretaker of the Ting, the person responsible for the care, maintenance and preparations for the thing.

In that case, he worked on behalf of today's Hilleshög.

Both runestones on the Ting site are connected to Hilleshög.
Runestone U 37 was carved by Torbjörn Skald, who also carved the large slab at Hilleshög, runestone U29, on behalf of Gerlög.

Runestone U 38 stands out from all other runestones on Ekerö with a comprehensive ornamentation on a large portal-like stone measuring approximately 2.5 x 2 meters.

In the runic inscription of the runestone, which is now badly worn, one can no longer see a man's name, but it is clarified immediately afterwards with "... Gerlög's husband", probably the same Gerlög who had U 29 carved at Hilleshög..

The newly discovered runestone fragment with the word F A H U þ U was found near and within sight of Tingsplatsen in the direction of Hilleshög.
 

The F-rune on the new find has unusually deep bi-stave but has its resemblance on the slab at Hilleshög. The slanted main staves, typical of Torbjörn Skald, can also be distinguished on the runestone. Could it really be Torbjörn Skald who carved the new runestone?
 

If it was Torbjörn who carved the fragment, it is strange that both the U and the þ rune (th) are carved outside the upper band (1). The depth of the carvings is also uneven and appears to have been done by someone without experience (2).

Torbjörn was an experienced runecarver, he was headstrong and very self-confident and did as he wanted but he did not carve runes in this way and it is not justified either.

One explanation could be that it is Torbjörn Skald who designed and painted up the runestone for someone who was unsure of ornamentation and runes, someone who was then allowed to carve it himself, someone without experience..

Torbjörn Skald was in the area for a long time to carve the runestones, U 29 and U 37, so it is possible that he inspired and helped the keeper to carve his own runestone.

I get goosebumps when I put all the "puzzle pieces" together and see that the medieval place we call Galgbacken today had a much older history and function.

Perhaps this find will have significance for the history of both Färingsö and Ekerö if the preliminary interpretation of the remains when the report comes..  
 

and besides!
The Ting site is still located at the intersection of three parishes, Färingsö, Hilleshög and Sånga. You can see all three parish churches from the Ting site, despite the hilly terrain if you remove some of the overgrown trees in the direction of Hilleshög. 

Visit the runestone?

The runestone fragment is kept in the farm Lisselby but not available for visits.

In december 2025 it was still not published in any report although it has been examined and it is not yet listed in Fornsök.

Frustratingly long time again.. just over 10 years?!

To ​​be continued....

Links

Fornsök > Find the site for the Ting.

The Ting site is a historical site with two large runestones, the site is well worth a visit. Today the site is also called "Galjbacken" (where people were executed as punishment) but that name refers to a medieval tradition at the same site but which came later.

Google map > Find the runestone

ALL RUNESTONES

Ekerö municipality

ADELSÖ >
has 5 known runestones

BIRKA >
has fragments from 9 known runestones

MUNSÖ >
has 3 or 4 known runestones

EKERÖ >
has 11 known runestones

FÄRINGSÖ >
has 27 known runestones

LOVÖ >
has 8 known runestones