GP 169 Halla kyrka 4

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 168 Halla kyrka 3 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 4 is placed about 0.70 m to the right (i.e., south) of the altar, in the south-eastern corner of the choir. The slab borders Halla kyrka 2 in the north, Halla kyrka 3 in the west, and the choir’s walls in the east and south. 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 168 Halla kyrka 3
GP 170 Halla kyrka 5
GP 159 Halla kyrka (I)

Measurements, Material and Condition
The fragment is of non-uniform shape which could be described as irregular square or roughly rectangular. Its western long side is 1.12 m and its southern short side 0.84 m long. The limestone is homogeneously grey and a bit reddish, with some cracks and black spots (probably paint or tar). The northern half of the surface is a bit rough, seemingly covered by chisel strokes, and thus appears to be intentionally obliterated, while the southern half is relatively even and smooth, bearing visible remains of the bas-relief. Overall, the stone is not as much worn as the two neighboring fragments.

Description of Ornament and Images
A double line representing the inner frame of a decorated edge border is clearly visible, forming approximately the right half of a mushroom-shaped picture stone’s head, whose top is directed towards the southern wall of the choir. The double line starts at the topmost part of the head, runs to the right (west), forming the typical edge corner of the mushroom head, and finally proceeds downwards, i.e., in northern direction, framing the neck area of the monument. Some remains of the interlace pattern are traceable just to the right (west) of the lateral double line. A small part of a horizontal double line (running from west to east) marks the border between the head and the body of the picture stone. Remains of the lowered background plane indicating a typical bas-relief can be discerned inside the framed head part, but no figurative elements are determinable.

Interpretation of the Imagery
No interpretation

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

References
Böttger-Niedenzu 1988, p. 10.

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