GP 170 Halla kyrka 5

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 169 Halla kyrka 4. 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 5 is placed to the left (i.e., north) of the altar, right next to it. The rectangular fragment’s narrow side borders the altar itself as well as the step in front of it. Halla kyrka 2, Halla kyrka 3 and Halla kyrka 4 are embedded just to the right (i.e., south) 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 169 Halla kyrka 4
GP 159 Halla kyrka (I)

Measurements, Material and Condition
The picture stone has been trimmed to roughly rectangular shape, 1.10 m in length and 0.69 m maximum width. The limestone is homogeneously grey and a bit reddish. The surface is a little bit rough but overall relatively even and worn by footsteps. Nevertheless, the lowered background plane and slightly raised figurative elements are still discernable, at least when using side light.

Description of Ornament and Images
It is difficult to identify the depictions with the naked eye. According to Böttger-Niedenzu’s drawing (1988, fig. 6), the undermost part of a ship’s hull is preserved, directly above a row of at least ten triangles which are rising from a horizontal double line, representing waves of the sea. The double line, which runs across the entire surface in north-south direction, appears to indicate the border between the lowest image panel and the picture-stone’s root part. To the left (north) of the ship, an almost vertical spear-like object is pointing towards the ground. Böttger-Niedenzu (1988, p. 11) regards it as a rudder. Even though this seems to be the most plausible interpretation, it must be stressed that the shape, the position and the orientation of such a spear-like rudder would be very unusual. Compare for instance the completely different rudders on the stones GP 184 Hejnum Riddare, GP 253 Lärbro St. Hammars I, GP 258 Lärbro Tängelgårda I, GP 390 Stenkyrka Lillbjärs III, GP 21 Ardre kyrka VIII and GP 211 Klinte Hunninge III. According to Böttger-Niedenzu (ibid.), there are also remains of four crew members and the rigging discernable, which is difficult to verify and not really visible in her drawing.
GP 184 Hejnum Riddare
GP 253 Lärbro Stora Hammars I
GP0258
GP 390 Stenkyrka Lillbjärs III
GP 21 Ardre kyrka VIII
GP 211 Klinte Hunninge III

Interpretation of the Imagery
No interpretation

Type and Dating
The bas-relief, the ship motif and its dimensions as well as the triangular waves indicate a picture stone of Lindqvist’s ʻAbschnittʼ C/D, which can only be roughly dated to between the 8th century and the 10th century. Triangular waves are depicted on, for instance, the Type C/D stones GP 280 När Smiss I, GP 212 Klinte Klintebys, and GP 563 Väte kyrka 2. They do not, however, occur on Type E stones.
GP 280 När Smiss I
GP 212 Klinte Hunninge (IV) (Klintebys)
GP 563 Väte kyrka 2