GP 367 Stenkyrka kyrka VIII

Context and Discovery
The stone and its discovery is reported in Per Arvid Säve’s Samlingar (I, p. 297; III p. 523) and in his Berättelser (1863 p. 211), based on information collected by his brother Carl. According to these notes, the stone was found in 1844 in a field close to the northern wall of the churchyard. The picture stone was re-used as cover slab over an inhumation grave at a depth of about 180 cm, with a covering stone layer above it. The grave was surrounded by flat stones. In the grave, only bones and a human skull were found. ‘Close by were several other, similar stone settings, in which admittedly no picture stones were encountered, but at least bronze objects. Thus, some bronze pins were unearthed, for instance, which I was able to purchase.’ The stone is supposed to have been lying on the churchyard wall right after its discovery in 1844. The only available picture documentation of the monument is represented by Per Arvid Säve’s drawing, which must have been executed between 1844 and about 1863.

Measurements, Material and Condition
According to the measurements given by Säve, the limestone slab’s maximum height was 3 fot and 4 tum (which was about 99 cm), its maximum width 1 fot and 10.5 tum (about 56 cm), and its thickness 2 tum (about 5 cm). The stone was completely preserved, including its root, and no damage is visible on Säve’s drawing or mentioned in the report.

Description of Ornament and Images
Per Arvid Säve’s drawing seems to be a bit idealized and simplified. According to Carl Säve, the chiseled drawings were quite clear, even though delicate and not deep. As far as it can be seen from the drawing, the stone was entirely framed by a border consisting of 4 to 5 parallel lines, which were partly segmented by some short vertical lines at the lateral edges, and a step pattern at the top of the upper edge. In the center of the image field, a heraldic shield decorated with a hatched rectangular field and remains of a cross can be seen, which certainly must be regarded as a late medieval or modern addition. Thus, the stone represents a kind of palimpsest. If the information about the find circumstances are correct, and if the drawing is reliable, however, the heraldic shield must have been carved after the discovery of the stone and before Per Arvid’s drawing, which means between 1844 and 1863. According to Carl’s notes, there seemed to be carvings above the shield as well.

Interpretation of the Imagery
No interpretation

Type and Dating
Based on Säve’s drawing, Lindqvist regards the stone as a middle-Type ʻdwarf stoneʼ (ʻAbschnittʼ B), dating between AD 500 and 700 (1941/42 I, p. 38). Even though the drawing appears not to be reliable in all respects, this is the most likely interpretation. The stone’s size, with less than 100 cm visible above ground, indicates a dwarf stone; the shape of the head could be described as convex with corners protruding horizontally; and the border decoration is geometrical and could represent a simple step pattern (simplified twisted cord), which is typical for Type B picture stones.

The stone is also included in Rundkvist’s typological study, however, with confusing and inconsistent details. In his catalogue about picture stones from graves, Rundkvist calls the monument a tall C/D stone (2012, p. 154), and in his table presenting typological data, he assigns it to his group dwarf4, however, based on obviously wrong data (ibid. p. 160).

References
Lindqvist 1941/42 II, p. 117, fig. 507; Rundkvist 2012, p. 154.

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