GP 190 Hejnum Bjärs 6

Context and Discovery
The stone is listed for the first time in Jan Peder Lamm’s list, in the 1978 edition of “Bildstenar” (no. 135), but without any further information (apart from the indication that it is a kerbstone, which is still at the place of discovery). The slab was re-discovered by Per Widerström in 2021. It was reused as a step in front of the entrance to an outbuilding located close to the Iron Age burial ground, just across the road, opposite the re-erected picture stone GP 186 Hejnum Bjärs I. It is more than likely that this kerbstone also comes from the burial ground.

The Bjärs cemetery extends to the south of the farm in three closely spaced areas immediately east of the country road, consisting of a total of more than 80 stone settings still visible today, rösen (cairns) and other circular stone mounds: RAÄ Hejnum 31:1 (northern area, 165 x 50 m), 113:1 (middle area, 150 x 60 m), 36:1 (southern area, 190 x 30–65 m). A small area of 90 x 30 m containing 7 stone settings immediately west of the road, belonging to Bjärs prästgård (parsonage), is obviously also part of the Bjärs necropolis (RAÄ 45:1). About 160 graves were excavated by Fredrik Nordin (Nordin 1893; Nordin et al. 1906) during the years 1885–86. Further investigations of the spot were conducted by Nordin during the early 1890s. The cemetery was used from the Roman Iron Age until the Viking Period. Most of the graves, however, date to the Vendel Period. The stones Hejnum Bjärs II–V were found in the north-western corner of the northern cemetery area, close to the road and the stone Hejnum Bjärs I was found about 200 m further south, also close to the road, at the edge of the middle area.
SO
GP 186 Hejnum Bjärs I
GP 187 Hejnum Bjärs II
GP 189 Hejnum Bjärs III
GP 188 Hejnum Bjärs IV
GP 182 Hejnum Bjärs V

Measurements, Material and Condition
The elongated limestone slab is almost completely preserved, 1.54 m long, 35.2 cm wide at its widest point and 14 cm thick. One long side is relatively straight and borders directly on the stone door sill, to which it is attached. The corresponding narrow side is therefore not visible. The opposite long side, facing outwards, is convex and borders on a stone step that is lower than the slab itself. This convex narrow side is slightly worn but still displays a pattern of alternating 3 cm wide horizontal and vertical chiseled grooves. The right short end is slightly worn but appears to have been smoothly hewn at an acute angle. The left short side is damaged but still retains a small section of the smoothly hewn surface and has a slightly acute angle. Due to its use as a step, the surface of the monument is heavily abraded. In places it is also covered with green paint from painting the wooden door.
CJL/SO

Description of Ornament and Images
Apart from the pattern of alternating horizontal and vertical grooves on the convex narrow side, no decoration is visible.
SO

Interpretation of the Imagery
No interpretation

Type and Dating
Hejnum Bjärs 6 was designated as a kerbstone (kantsten) by Jan Peder Lamm (Lamm/Nylén 2003, p. 187) and corresponds to the kerbstones (Randsteine) of Sune Lindqvist’s (1941/42 I, pp. 31–33, 110) ʻAbschnittʼ A that date to circa AD 400–600 (see also Oehrl 2019a, pp. 8–10). According to Lindqvist (1933, pp. 105, 107; 1941/1942 I, pp. 21, 31–33), the kerbstones formed an edge chain which surrounded a grave mound, possibly with an erected Type A picture stone in the center. However, no evidence has been found to confirm that any of the erected Type A picture stones were placed within a grave mound (Larkin 2023a, p. 50).

The convexity and dimensions of the stone, the typical groove decoration on the narrow side and the preserved angled short side clearly suggest that this slab, together with a group of other stones of this specific shape, served as a recumbent kerbstone in the manner described by Lindqvist and confirmed not least by the find of GP 566–569 Hellvi Ire II:1–4. A reconstruction of a circular edge chain using multiple 3D models of Hejnum Bjärs 6 shows that the stones fit tightly together to form a 3.13 m diameter circle made of 6 full stones (Larkin 2023a, pp. 30–31, Appendix 2). This is similar in size to the Hellvi Ire II edge chain (Stenberger 1936, pp. 80, 82, figs. 2–4; Lindqvist 1941/42 I, fig. 1; II, p. 74). The same pattern of grooves on the outer narrow convex side is also seen on the outer narrow sides of the GP 377–381 Stenkyrka Lillbjärs VI and GP 382 Stenkyrka Tystebols II kerbstones.
CJL/SO
GP 566 Hellvi Ire II:1
GP 567 Hellvi Ire II:2
GP 568 Hellvi Ire II:3
GP 569 Hellvi Ire II:4
GP 377 Stenkyrka Lillbjärs VIa
GP 378 Stenkyrka Lillbjärs VIb
GP 379 Stenkyrka Lillbjärs VIc
GP 380 Stenkyrka Lillbjärs VId
GP 381 Stenkyrka Lillbjärs VIe
GP 382 Stenkyrka Tystebols II