GP 185 Hejnum Rings

Context and Discovery
Lindqvist (1941/42 II, p. 72) notes: “Picture stone, found in 1884 in the field ‘Sudaråker’, just southwest of the group of ‘kämpgravar’ (house foundations) investigated by FN [Fredrik Nordin] (Mbl [Kungl. Vitterhets historie och antikvitets akademiens månadsblad] 1886 p. 145–147, 1888 p. 49, 97, and 158–160). The stone had been lying recumbent, overgrown by ash trees and hazelnut bushes. On the same occasion, some red glass beads were observed, which, however, were not kept (?), as well as a bronze object, which was sent to SHM.” The find spot of the stone is located directly next to a complex of Early Iron Age house foundations (kämpgravar) and stone enclosures (stensträngar) (RAÄ Hejnum 20:1). After Nordin’s inspection, the complex was investigated again by Arne Björnstad in 1950. A large number of settlement finds came to light during both investigations (SHM 8063 and 2441), as well as a gold spiral ring, two Roman coins (2nd century AD), and many arrow heads (projectile points) (Nordin 1886, pp. 152–168). About 150 m south-east of the find spot, an Iron Age cemetery consisting of about 30 stone mounds is situated (RAÄ Hejnum 21:1).

In a letter by Ernst Hellgren from 1909 (ATA Go Hejnum sn Rings), a picture stone is mentioned lying in the front yard of Fornsalen, which originated from a field belonging to Rings gård (farmstead). According to Hellgren, the stone had been moved to the farmstead after its discovery and incorporated into a staircase, where it was found by Nordin, who finally delivered it to the museum in Visby. It is not clear, however, if this stone is identical with the stone described here.

Measurements, Material and Condition
“Limestone slab, 17–20 cm thick. The obverse naturally even, partly flaked, the narrow sides hewn at right angles towards the obverse, the reverse rough and unworked. Total height of the stone 220 cm, 190 cm of which above the lower edge of the decoration. Width at the neck 90 cm” (Lindqvist 1941/42 II, p. 72). When the stone was discovered, it was broken into three pieces. This can still be seen on Olof Sörling’s drawing from 1910, which is kept in ATA (Run- och bildstenssamling). Today the fragments are fixed together with mortar, which can already be seen on the first photos of the slab dating to the early 1930s (ATA 457:30; 1751:14; 1718:42). Only the stone’s lower right edge (including the border decoration), parts of the root, and the left corner of the head are missing; otherwise the three matching fragments represent the entire monument. The stone’s surface and decoration, however, is not only damaged by the cracks but also much weathered and worn.

Description of Ornament and Images
Lindqvist describes the depictions in the following way (1941/42 II, p. 72): “Decorated with narrow, well-chiselled lines and slightly sunken background fields. Due to severe weathering, almost everything above the sail has been deleted. But it appears that the field in question contained two image panels of approximately equal height that were separated by a horizontal line or a narrow band at about the level of the neck. A horizontal border in the customary sense did not occur here. The framing border apparently contained rich band patterns of gradually alternating designs. Completely discernible is only the larger part of the ship, its sail with rhombic pattern, the breaking waves underneath, and the stylised four-strand interlace in the horizontal border at the base”. The ship’s mast is not placed in the middle of the ship but a bit further to the left, as in the cases of, for instance, GP 211 Klinte Hunninge III, GP 280 När Smiss I, GP 561 Väte Gullarve, and GP 339 Rute St. Valle 2.

There are three slightly different interpretations, all of them kept in ATA (Run- och bildstenssamling). An early drawing by Olof Sörling (2425:19) corresponds to Lindqvist’s description but without the horizontal border line in the head field. An improved drawing by Sörling dating to 1910 seems to depict the body and a single leg of a horse in the head field and minor additions regarding the border decoration and the rigging. Lindqvist’s photo of the painted stone (II, fig. 77), which was taken by Faith-Ell in 1933 (ATA 1718:42), features the described horizontal line in the head field instead of the horse, as well as some more details regarding the interlace border and the rigging, which seems to represent a network of ropes.
GP 211 Klinte Hunninge III
GP 280 När Smiss I
GP 561 Väte Gullarve
GP 339 Rute St. Valle 2

Interpretation of the Imagery
No interpretation

Type and Dating
Tall mushroom-shaped late-type picture stone. The monument belongs to a small group of large Type C stones with slightly convex head and corners protruding at right angles to the body (Lindqvist 1941/42 I, tbl. III). Best examples are GP 37 Bro Eiriks I, GP 45 Bro Eiriks II, and GP 191 Hejnum Mallgårds 1 (and the Type E stone GP 32 Boge kyrka, which represents a palimpsest). This head shape corresponds to certain Type B ʻdwarf stonesʼ. Therefore, Lindqvist (ibid. p. 46) regards the mentioned Type C monuments as a “Hybridgruppe”, probably representing a phase of transition between ʻAbschnittʼ B and C. If this interpretation is correct, those stones could be regarded as the earliest Type C stones, presumably dating to the 8th century or possibly around 700. This dating corresponds to the result of Martin Rundqvist (2012, p. 159), who assigns Hejnum Rings to his typological group tall2, dating to the Late Vendel Period. Imer (2004, p. 104), however, dates the monument to the 9th century, and Varenius (1992, appendix 2), based on his analysis of the ship’s rigging (group IV segelskepp med skotnät), even to the 10th century.
GP0037
GP0045
GP 191 Hejnum Mallgårds 1
GP 32 Boge kyrka