GP 168 Halla kyrka 3

Context and Discovery
The fragment was discovered in the floor of the choir by Beata Böttger-Niedenzu in 1983, together with GP 153 Halla kyrka 2, GP 169 Halla kyrka 4 and GP 170 Halla kyrka 5. In 1982, Böttger-Niedenzu submitted her master’s thesis on Gotland’s picture stones to the Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, and during the years 1981 to 1985, she visited the Gotlandic rural churches, discovering not fewer than 38 previously unknown picture stones, which she published in a brief catalogue in 1988. Halla kyrka 3 is placed about 0.70 m to the right (i.e., south) of the altar. The rectangular slab borders the fragments Halla kyrka 2 in the north and Halla kyrka 4 in the east, while Halla kyrka 5 is situated to the left (i.e., north) of the altar. All four stones are similar in material, technique and condition. Whether they all originate from one and the same monument or not, however, remains uncertain. The Type A picture stone GP 159 Halla kyrka (I) has been re-used as altar slab inside the nave until 1876.

The oldest part of the present church is the relatively small nave which was built around 1200. The tower is only some decades younger, while the present rectangular choir was erected as late as during the middle of the 14th century. The large Gothic style choir replaces an old Romanesque apsidal choir of which the portal is re-used as tower portal in the present church building.
GP 153 Halla kyrka 2
GP 169 Halla kyrka 4
GP 170 Halla kyrka 5
GP 159 Halla kyrka (I)

Measurements, Material and Condition
The picture stone has been trimmed to roughly rectangular shape, 1.22 m in length and 0.84 m maximum width. The limestone is dark grey and a bit reddish, with several black areas. Overall, the surface is rough and craggy. The entire surface appears to be weathered and worn by footsteps.

Description of Ornament and Images
Small remains of the lowered background plane indicating a typical bas-relief are discernable at some points. Along the northern long side of the stone, a 1.5 cm broad and 21 cm long vertical and slightly raised band is clearly traceable, which probably represents the frame of a border decoration or, less likely, a horizontal divider.

Interpretation of the Imagery
No interpretation

Type and Dating
The dimensions of the stone, its bas-relief and probable border indicate a picture stone of Lindqvist’s ʻAbschnittʼ C/D, less likely E. Therefore, the monument can only be roughly dated to between the 8th and the 10th century.

References
Böttger-Niedenzu 1988, p. 10.

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Plane	Position	Flip