GP 147 Halla Broa X

Context and Discovery
Lindqvist published 20 picture stones under the name of the farmstead Broa (today Broe), all of which appear to originate from the unusually large Iron Age grave field, which is situated in the south-western part of Halla parish, close to the border to Roma parish, and which had been well known through the ages, first mentioned by Strelow in 1633. The farm belongs to the community of Högbro. Since time immemorial, two important country roads, the road Halla–Viklau and the road Roma-Sjonhem (ʻVisbyvägenʼ) intersect here, where a rise consisting of gravel (the ʻhigh bridgeʼ = Högbro) clearly emerges out of the terrain, leading across the great mire system Romamyr-Stormyr. Both roads in turn are intersected by the railway line Roma-Etelhem. The railway intersects both roads a few hundred metres to the west and southwest of the crossing, respectively. During the 19th century, the Högbro elevation was severely diminished and large parts of the Broa necropolis were destroyed by clearing and cultivation, gravel mining, house building, railway and road construction, as well as deliberate grave robbing. Many finds from Broa were sold on the antiquities market during this time, with many acquired by ATA. Unfortunately, the large and highly important cemetery of Högbro-Broa is still not published adequately; its present documentation is incomplete and confusing. The best overview about the history and state of research is given by Lena Thunmark-Nylén (1995–2006 III:2, pp. 621–623; IV:1, pp. 324–347).

The first professional and large-scale excavation took place in 1899, conducted by Hans Hansson, who unearthed 14 graves in a small area right next to the intersection, just south of the road Roma-Sjonhem and east of the road to Viklau. One further large-scale excavation was carried out in 1981–82 by Ann-Marie Pettersson, who investigated 120 graves (9 inhumation, 102 cremation, 9 without bones) in a small area (circa 700 m2) about 50 m north of the road Roma-Sjonhem and about 40 m east of the road to Halla (Broe 1:71; see the report compiled by Daniel Langhammer from 2012, RAGU dnr 13/82, 789/84). Apart from that, several minor and poorly documented investigations took place, in the beginning of the 20th century and, in particular, during the 1930s and the early 1940s.

Two larger areas are registered by ATA, a burial ground north of the road Roma-Sjonhem (ATA Halla 46:1) and a burial ground south of the road (ATA Halla 48:1). The first one (46:1) covers an area of circa 120 x 110 m (E–W) and contains 66 circular stone settings and 120 investigated flat graves. The other one (48:1) is about 300 x 120 m (N–S) and features 202 circular stone settings. Several other registered monuments, about 15 stone settings, 2 stone kists and 1 gravklot (large spherical stone) seem to belong to the Broa grave field as well (ATA Halla 1:1, 1:2, 74:1, 78:1, 79:1; Roma 31:1, 31:2, 32:1). Thunmark-Nylén (1995–2006 III:2, p. 622) estimates the number of investigated graves alone at about 300 to 400. The actual size and extent of the necropolis, however, remains still uncertain.

The oldest investigated burials can be dated to the Roman Iron Age although some unexcavated stone settings are typical for the Pre-Roman Iron Age. Most of the graves, however, date to the Migration, Vendel and Viking Periods. First and foremost, the grave field is well-known and frequently cited for some particularly important finds such as the decorated horse harness from the equestrian burial discovered in 1899, after which the Broa Style is named (Salin 1922; Thunmark-Nylén 1992; 1995–2006 IV:1, pp. 325–326), the lyre bridge of amber from the same grave (Reimers 1980), and many remarkable finds of glass vessels from all periods (Nylén 1969). Furthermore, there are several elite warriorsʼs graves containing fragments of ring-swords as well as a Vendel helmet (Nerman 1969/75 I:1, p. 29; II, fig. 601).

Regarding the picture stones, the exact location of the find spots is difficult to determine in most cases, and their contexts and relation to the known parts of the cemetery remain unclear. Most of them originate from the railway line and the area west of it (called ʻBrandenʼ) and the rest from the area east of the road to Halla, between the road and the border to Roma (ʻKlosterängenʼ). Lindqvist (1941/42 II, fig. 378) provides a map, which was primarily composed at the National Heritage Board (RAÄ) based on the information kept in ATA. It identifies the location of the find places of the stones as carefully as they could be determined at Lindqvist’s time.

“Found on the property of Otto Engström in ʻBrandenʼ, close under the ground surface. Brought to GF in 1913” (Lindqvist 1941/42 II, p. 63). The find spot is situated, according to the map provided by Lindqvist (1941/42 I, fig. 378), just west of the intersection between the road to Viklau and the railway line, north of the border to Möllbos gård.

Measurements, Material and Condition
“Limestone slab, 3.5–6.5 cm thick. The obverse, which today looks severely battered, appears to have been naturally even, the narrow sides are hewn at right angles towards the obverse; a chamfer in between hardly ever existed. The reverse is rough and unworked. The total height of the stone is 47 cm, 28 cm of which are above the root. Width of the head 27 cm, that of the neck 24 cm, of the base 26 cm” (Lindqvist 1941/42 II, p. 64). The stone is completely preserved. The root tapers downwards; perhaps parts of it are broken off. Since the surface is much abraded, probably due to weathering, and since the carved lines are very shallow, most of the decoration is quite hard to discern.

Description of Ornament and Images
The small monument is decorated with very shallow, 2 to 3-mm-wide lines. According to Lindqvist’s description and photo of the painted stone (1941/42 I, p. 64, fig. 54), large parts of the framing border with a typical simplified twisted cord pattern, which looks like a simple step pattern, are discernible on the stone’s left and bottom sides. Furthermore, on the stone’s body, halfway up, there is a horizontal border with a herringbone pattern. In the upper field, a simple ship image with towering stems, a mast and a small rectangular sail can be seen.

An unpublished drawing by Olof Sörling from 1914 shows fewer remains of carvings, only a few insignificant parts of the border decoration and the vessel (ATA Run- och bildstenssamling). A photo of the painted stone taken by H. Faith-Ell in 1933 (ATA 1751:23), does not reveal many more details; only Lindqvist’s final paint version, documented by a photo taken by A. Edle in 1936 (ATA 2223:25), depicts all elements of the decoration described above.

Interpretation of the Imagery
No interpretation

Type and Dating
Middle-type picture stone, which means a Type B ʻdwarf stoneʼ, dating to between AD 500 and 700. The monument belongs to the group of Type B stones featuring a slightly convex head with corners protruding horizontally. Lindqvist (1941/42 I, p. 37) assigns Halla Broa X to his Stenstugruppe. According to Martin Rundkvist’s (2012, p. 159) typology, the stone’s shape represents Type dwarf2, belonging to his period 2, which he dates to the Early Vendel Period. The simple ship depiction corresponds to a type labelled by Lindqvist as Rikvidetypus (ibid. I, p. 66). According to Vareniusʼ (1992, p. 62, fig. 24, appendix 2) typology, the ship, which features of a simple rectangular sail, belongs to group II (Skepp med enkel rigg), dating to the 7th to 9th century. A horizontal border with herringbone pattern is unusual and a special feature of this stone. Cf. The herringbone pattern on GP 10 Alva St. Ringome.
GP 10 Alva St. Ringome

References
Lindqvist 1941/42 I, pp. 37, 66, fig. 54; II, p. 64; Guber 2011, p. 126 cat. no. 33; Oehrl 2019a, p. 32.

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