Standing tall in the Östergötland region of Sweden, the enigmatic Rök Stones have guarded the secrets of the Viking Age for centuries. Among them, the renowned Rök Stone boasts the longest runic inscription ever found on a stone, recounting tales of valor, mythology, and the exploits of the 6th-century Ostrogoth king, Theodoric the Great.
For decades, researchers have sought to unlock the mysteries held by these stones, but a groundbreaking recent study has revealed a remarkable find. The Rök Stones seem to document a catastrophic climate event that affected the Viking world long before their creation. Between 536 and 550 AD, a series of volcanic eruptions shrouded Scandinavia in ash, leading to unusually cold summers. This resulted in widespread crop failures and famine, with estimates suggesting a staggering 50% decline in the population.