Åsmund Kåresson

Åsmund Kåresson was a Viking Age runemaster who flourished during the first half of the 11th century in Uppland and Gästrikland, Sweden. The early Urnes style is represented in his art.

Work Most early medieval Scandinavians were likely literate in runes, and most people carved messages on pieces of bone and wood. However, it was difficult to make runestones, and in order to master it, one also needed to be a stonemason. The stone's runic text also states that Steinn's sons were named Sibbi, Geirbjôrn, and Ulfr, but it is not known if one of these was the father of Åsmund. In addition, in two inscriptions, U 956 in Vedyxa and Gs 11 in Järvsta, Åsmund Kåresson listed his patronym with the text osmuntr kara sun or "Ásmundr Kári's son."

It has been suggested that Kåresson was identical with the English clergyman Osmundus who became bishop at the court of king Emund the Old, but the reasons for this identification are not deemed sufficient.

Inscriptions Over twenty inscriptions are listed in the Rundata catalog as being signed by Åsmund including:

U 301 in Skånela U 346 in Frösunda U 356 in Ängby U 368 in Helgåby U 824 in Holm U 847 in Västeråker U 859 in Måsta U 871 in Ölsta U 884 in Ingla U 932 at Uppsala Cathedral U 956 in Vedyxa U 969 in Bolsta U 986 in Kungsgården U 998 in Skällerö U 1142 in Åbyggeby U 1144 in Tierp U 1149 in Fleräng U Fv1986;84 in Bo gård U Fv1988;241 in Rosersberg Gs 11 in Järvsta Gs 12 in Lund Gs 13 in Söderby

On inscriptions U 859, U 986, U 969, U 998, U 1149, and Gs 13, Åsmund Kåresson shifted the r-rune over one space to spell his name as osmunrt.

Gallery