GP 248 Lärbro Källstäde

Context and Discovery
There is little information about the find circumstances given in the catalogues of Statens Historiska Museum in Stockholm (cf. Lindqvist 1941/42 II, p. 89): The stone was discovered in an agricultural field in which many stone settings with cists made of flat stone slabs had been found. The cists contained remains of uncremated skeletons. The actual find spot is unclear. However, the slab probably originates from one of the many (groups of) stone settings and small burial grounds (RAÄ Lärbro 232:1, 238:1, 241:1) in the proximity of the two farmsteads Lilla Källstäde and Stora Källstäde. The slab was donated to SHM in 1868 by the fabricant A. Bolinder. It was mentioned in Per Arvid Säveʼs Berättelser (1864, p. 337). In a drawing of the monument by Säve kept in Uppsala University Library (P.A. Säves techningar från Gotland, Lärbro no. 22, alvin-record186725), however, it is noted that it was found by Bolinder in 1865. The find was published in the newspaper Dagbladet 1869-01-05.

Measurements, Material and Condition
“Limestone slab, about 7 cm thick. The obverse is even, the narrow sides hewn at right angles towards the obverse. In between, there is an insignificant chamfer. The reverse is rough and unworked” (Lindqvist 1941/42 II, p. 89). The small picture stone is almost completely preserved. However, most of the root as well as the lower-right corner of the base are broken off. As can be seen from Per Arvid Säveʼs drawing (see IV), the stone slab was found together with a large broken part of the root, which is now lost. Including the remaining part of the root, the slab is about 1.40 m high. The decorated part of the slab is circa 1.05 m high. Between the corners of the head the stone is 0.7 m wide. The surface is weathered, in particular in the top field, but the quite distinctively carved main parts of the imagery are still well-discernible.

Description of Ornament and Images
The carvings are described by Lindqvist as follows (1941/42 II, p. 89): “On the whole, this stone is decorated with 1–2 mm wired, shallow lines. Also, the background fields were mostly chiseled. Inside of the framing border with a simplified two-stranded band pattern, there is a watercraft at the bottom of the panel, with steep, towering stems, of which at least the rear one is coiled in a spiral. The ship features a rudder and a square sail with checkered sailcloth in a frame of consistent width. Above the vessel, an object can be perceived that is difficult to interpret ([Fredrik Nordin] called it an axe, but if so, it likely is a double-edged axe). Probably, however, this is the depiction of a harp (cf. the well-known examples from Oberflacht) [cf. ibid. I, p. 88]. Further up, the vague remains of a symmetrical group of figures or ornaments may be made out.” Lindqvist only provides a photo of the unpainted stone, dating to 1933 (cf. ATA 1719:28, 2437:3–4). All described elements are well-discernable here. In the unpublished drawings by Säve (see IV) and Sörling (1911), ATA run- och bildstenssamling), the main elements are included as well.

The “symmetrical group of figures or ornaments” probably represents a pair of serpent-like creatures. The more-or-less axe-like object above the vessel, the right half of which probably features a rectangular opening and thus forms a kind of frame (as can also be seen on both drawings), can surely be regarded as a stringed instrument, a lyre (not a harp). Archaeological evidence for lyres of this sort is known from the 2nd to the 8th/9th centuries and has been found particularly in England, Germany, and the Netherlands (Bruce-Mitford 1983, pp. 611–727; Betz/Wanzeck 1999; Kolltveit 2000; Bischop 2002; Koch 2004). Most prominent are, for example, the complete instruments from the Alemannic row grave fields of Oberflacht (6th and first quarter of the 7th c.) (Paulsen 1992, pp. 147–155; figs. 126–127) and Trossingen (burial dated to AD 580) (Theune-Großkopf 2002; 2005; 2006; 2010), from a Frankish burial of high status underneath St. Severin in Cologne (early 8th c.) (Päffgen 1992 I, pp. 481–485; figs. 169–170; II, pp. 280–284; III, pl. 59:5), as well as the Anglo-Saxon royal burial at Sutton Hoo (7th c. [AD 624/625?]) (Bruce-Mitford 1970; 1983, pp. 611–727). There also are lyres or their components from the North (Bischop 2002): a bridge of a lyre was found at Birka (9th c.) (Salmen 1970, p. 8, fig. 1:3), a lyre yoke in Hedeby (11th c.) (Lawson 1984), and two fragments of bridges at Wurt Elisenhof near Tönning (8th c.) (Salmen 1970, pp. 7–8; fig. 1:4; pl. 3,1–2). From Gotland, two examples are known: an amber bridge from the ‘chief’s grave’ at Broa in Halla parish (8th c.) (Reimers 1980) and a bronze bridge from Gerete, Fardhem parish (Vedin 2007).

Another depiction of a lyre can be seen on the Type C/D picture stone fragment GP 34 Boge Laxarve 2 – the fragmented, more-or-less rectangular object with vertical stripes at the ship’s bow must be regarded as a stringed instrument. Apparently, the musical instrument is carried along in a war ship.

In the 1950s, Karl Hauck examined Lärbro Källstäde by means of a latex cast and tried to detect further carvings. His drawing of the stone (which he never published) documents several astonishing results – sun symbols in the corners of the head, a human figure with splayed legs (comparable to the figure on GP 281 När Smiss 3) in the top field, a pair of giant serpents, and two warriors, one with horned headgear and one with a wolfʼs head (as on the Vendel Period Pressblech plates from Torslunda, Öland) on both sides of the ship (Oehrl 2019a, pl. 35d). In 2010, Laila Kitzler Åhfeldt and Sigmund Oehrl checked Hauckʼs results on the basis of 3D modelling. Actually, some faint and scattered remains of further carvings to the right and to the left of the vessel could be verified (ibid. pls. 62c–f). However, the great majority of elements added by Hauck are without foundation and must be rejected (ibid. pp. 94, 286, 288).
GP 34 Boge Laxarve 2
GP 281 När Smiss 3

Interpretation of the Imagery
No interpretation. However, Oehrl stresses that the lyre had its Sitz im Leben (context) within the lifestyle of a martial aristocracy, associated with heroic poetry. More comprehensively: Oehrl 2019a, pp. 259–262.

Type and Dating
Middle-type picture stone, i.e., Type B according to Lindqvist, dating to between AD 500 and 700. The stone belongs to the group of Type B stones with convex head and pronounced corners, which protrude horizontally. With a height of 105 cm above ground, the slab represents one of the tallest Type B picture stones and cannot really be called a dwarf stone. Lindqvist does not assign the monument to a certain group. Varenius (1992, p. 63, appendix 2) assigns the ship depiction on Lärbro Källstäde to his group 2 (enkel rigg), which he dates to the period between the 7th and the 9th century. 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 archaeological evidence for lyres of the depicted kind is known from the 2nd to the 8th/9th centuries (see VI).

References
Lindqvist 1941/42 I, pp. 66, 73, 88, fig. 43; II, p. 89; Lund 1981, p. 255; Henschen-Nyman 1984; Varenius 1992, p. 63, fig. 27; Kolltveit 2000, p. 19, fig. 1; Gustavson 2008, p. 37, fig. 1; Guber 2011, p. 134 cat. no. 50; Oehrl 2019a, pp. 74, 94, 228, 260, 286, 288, pls. 35d, 62c–f, 63a–b.

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