GP 490 Tingstäde kyrka XVI

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. C 4645–4658. 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 491 Tingstäde kyrka XVIII
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, up to 10 cm thick. The obverse seems to have been naturally even. Of the original narrow sides, no trace survives. The reverse is rough and unworked. The diagonals of the rhombic fragment are 35 cm and 42 cm long, respectively” (Lindqvist 1941/42 II, p. 136).

Description of Ornament and Images
“Of the decoration, part of a chequered sail is preserved, of which every other rectangle is chiseled. Also, several narrow, intersecting bands (sheet ropes?) can be seen in a sunken background field. Details cannot be established with any certainty anymore” (Lindqvist 1941/42 II, p. 136). According to Lindqvist (ibid. p. 135), the decoration appears to have been executed in the same rough manner as on fragment GP 489 Tingstäde kyrka XV, and both pieces originate from one picture stone. Therefore, Lamm subsumes them under one number in his catalogue (311).
GP 489 Tingstäde kyrka XV

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 489 Tingstäde kyrka XV
GP 491 Tingstäde kyrka XVIII

References
Lundmark 1925, pp. 172–173; Lindqvist 1941/42 II, p. 135–136, fig. 546.

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