GP 489 Tingstäde kyrka XV

Context and Discovery
The fragments GP 489–491, 496, 506 Tingstäde kyrka XV–XIX were observed lying on the church floor in 1914 by Efraim Lundmark. They originated from the nave’s gable wall, the masonry of the triumphal arch, in which a hole had been broken during the construction of a chimney. In the same year, all those fragments were taken to Gotlands Museum. Lundmark (1925, p. 173) emphasises that only a few of the relevant fragments originating from the triumphal arch were transferred to Gotlands Museum, while most of them were transported to the nearby lake Tingstäde träsk. Lindqvist adds in a footnote (1941/42 II, p. 135): “In 1920, several other stones were transferred to GF that came from the same part of the roof masonry as stones Nos. XV–XIX together with the note that they represented fragments of picture stones. They were entered in the inventory sheet as No. C4645–4658. They surely display – at least in part – a trimming at their edges characteristic for the purpose they served in the masonry. I was not able, however, to find clear proof for the notion that these stones represent fragments of picture stones.”

In total, not fewer than 26 picture stones from Tingstäde church are registered in Lamm/Nylén 2003 – The stones Tingstäde kyrka I–XX were published by Lindqvist. In 1984, Beata Böttger-Niedenzu discovered GP 507–509 Tingstäde kyrka 21–23, and GP 494 Tingstäde kyrka 24. Two more stones, which are incorporated into the wall of the tower, were discovered between 1990 and 2002 (GP 497–498 Tingstäde kyrka 25–26). The first Romanesque building with a nave and an apsidal choir was erected during the 12th century. In the beginning of the 13th century, the nave was enlarged, and around the middle of the century the old choir was replaced by the present one. The Romanesque portal which today leads to the sacristy probably represents the choir portal of the 12th century church which was re-used in the new building.
GP 489 Tingstäde kyrka XV
GP 490 Tingstäde kyrka XVI
GP 491 Tingstäde kyrka XVIII
GP 496 Tingstäde kyrka XIX
GP 506 Tingstäde kyrka XVII
GP 507 Tingstäde kyrka 21
GP 508 Tingstäde kyrka 22
GP 509 Tingstäde kyrka 23
GP 494 Tingstäde kyrka 24
GP 497 Tingstäde kyrka 25
GP 498 Tingstäde kyrka 26

Measurements, Material and Condition
A drawing by Olof Sörling is reproduced in Lindqvist’s book (1941/42 II, fig. 545), a photo of the unpainted stone kept in ATA (Run- och bildstenssamling). “Limestone slab, 10 cm thick. The obverse seems to have been naturally even, but now is quite knobby. At the narrowest edge of the parallelepiped fragment are the 14-cm long remains of an original narrow side that is hewn at approximately right angles towards the obverse, albeit also slightly convex crosswise. The reverse is rough and unworked. Measured from the narrow side, in the cross direction, the piece is 57 cm long, and at a right angle towards this line, the maximum width is 33 cm” (Lindqvist 1941/42 II, p. 135).

Description of Ornament and Images
Lindqvist (1941/42 II, p. 135) describes the very poor remains of carvings as follows: “The decoration appears to have been executed in the same rough manner as on fragment No. XVI – it might be imagined that both were part of the same stone –, but it was damaged when a large part of the obverse roughly was chiseled off, probably in order to fit the piece into the masonry. Close to the narrow side, remains of a broad framing border can be made out.” Sörling’s drawing only depicts a narrow band or a double line, which possibly represents a part of the border’s inner framing. On the opposite side, the drawing seems to show remains of a fine tendril pattern, reminiscent of Late Viking rune stone ornament (Urnes style?).

Interpretation of the Imagery
No interpretation

Type and Dating
Lindqvist (1941/42 I, p. 44) regards the fragments GP 489–490 Tingstäde kyrka XV–XVI (which he believes to originate from one and the same monument) as well as GP 491 Tingstäde kyrka XVIII as Type C ʻdwarf stonesʼ. The picture stones of ʻAbschnittʼ C are dated by Lindqvist to the time around AD 700. According to recent research, however, those stones can only be roughly dated to between the 8th century (or rather around AD 800) and the 10th century. However, the fragments’ poor decoration does not allow for a reliable evaluation, so the type can only be given as ʻlate-typeʼ, which means Type C–E, dating between the 8th century and around AD 1100. The labelling as ʻdwarf stoneʼ is uncertain as well.
GP 490 Tingstäde kyrka XVI
GP 491 Tingstäde kyrka XVIII

References
Lundmark 1925, pp. 172–173; Lindqvist 1941/42 II, p. 135, fig. 545

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