One of the finest examples of Viking stone carving ever found.

This early 11th-century Viking runestone was found in Saint Paul's churchyard in London in 1852. It is a thick stone, now in three pieces, but was originally a tombstone for a Viking.

The two carved beasts on the face of the stone appear to be a lion and a snake, each battling with the other. Their bodies are entangled together. Tangled beasts were a popular style of art at the time the stone was carved. This style of art is called the Ringerike style, named after an area in Norway, north of Oslo, the capital city.

All the paint on the stone has worn off , but experts think the carving of the beasts might have been black and brown with a light colored background.

The two rows of runes along the outer edge of the stone spell out 'Ginna and Toki had this stone set up.'

Who was this stone carved for?

No one really knows. Olaf Haraldsson attacked London in the early 11th century; perhaps the Viking who lay under this stone was one of his men.

However, most researchers believe that the runestone was carved for a follower of Cnut the Great. While Cnut was king of England (1016-1035) the Vikings introduced many of their favorite things to the English, including art style, food and drink, sports, and even Viking words. So it is possible that Ginna and Toki's friend had fought with the king and had settled down in or near London before he died.