A
runemaster or
runecarver is a term for a specialist in making
runestones. More than 100 names of runemasters are known from
Viking Age Sweden with most of them from 11th century eastern
Svealand. Many anonymous runestones have more or less securely been attributed to these runemasters. During the 11th century, when most runestones were raised, there were a few professional runemasters. They and their apprentices were contracted to make runestones and when the work was finished, they sometimes signed the stone with the name of the runemaster.