Parish Find Location 
Tingstäde

Find Location 
The tower of Tingstäde church.

Find Context Classification 
Church

Coordinate Find Location (lat) 
6405101

Coordinate Find Location (long) 
715187

Parish Present Location 
Tingstäde

Present Location 
In situ

Present Location Classification 
Church
In-Loco

Coordinate Present Location (lat) 
6405101

Coordinate Present Location (long) 
715187

Material 
Limestone

Height 
74

Thickness 
14

Lindqvist Type 
A (ca. 400-600)

Lindqvist Shape 
Tall stone
Kerb stone

Runic Inscription or not 
No

Context and Discovery 
The fragment is integrated as the twelfth step from the bottom in the lower part of the tower stairs, with its obverse facing upwards. In total, not fewer than 26 picture stones from Tingstäde church are registered in Lamm/Nylén 2003 – The stones Tingstäde kyrka I–XX were published by Lindqvist. In 1984, Beata Böttger-Niedenzu discovered GP 507–509 Tingstäde kyrka 21–23, and GP 494 Tingstäde kyrka 24. Two more stones, which are incorporated into the wall of the tower, were discovered between 1990 and 2002 (GP 497–498 Tingstäde kyrka 25–26). The first Romanesque building with a nave and an apsidal choir was erected during the 12th century. In the beginning of the 13th century, the nave was enlarged, and around the middle of the century the old choir was replaced by the present one. The Romanesque portal which today leads to the sacristy probably represents the choir portal of the 12th century church which was re-used in the new building. The tower was probably built together with the new choir, i.e., around 1250, but was raised by three floors during the 14th century.
GP 507 Tingstäde kyrka 21
GP 508 Tingstäde kyrka 22
GP 509 Tingstäde kyrka 23
GP 494 Tingstäde kyrka 24
GP 497 Tingstäde kyrka 25
GP 498 Tingstäde kyrka 26

Measurements, Material and Condition 
The fragment forms a narrow rectangle which preserves a part of the original edge of the monument. “Limestone slab, 14.5 cm thick. The obverse is dressed and now severely abraded by footsteps. The narrow side facing outwards is 74.5 cm long, slightly convex longitudinally, and chiselled at right angles towards the obverse. Between obverse and narrow side, there is a chamfer” (Lindqvist 1941/42 II, p. 132).

Description of Ornament and Images 
Lindqvist (1941/42 II, p. 132) describes the carvings very briefly: “Of the decoration, only insignificant remains of carved lines can be made out that hint at a border running along the narrow side.” A drawing by Sörling reproduced in Lindqvist’s book (II, fig. 537) is the only published illustration of the stone. In the drawing there is a groove along the preserved edge as well as one along the opposite long side. The distance between the two is about 13 cm.

Interpretation of the Imagery 
No interpretation

Type and Dating 
Most probably, the fragment belongs to an early-type picture stone, i.e. Type A according to Lindqvist’s typology (“Abschnitt” A), dating to about AD 400 to 600. In Lindqvist’s opinion, is of the same type as GP 499 Tingstäde kyrka II, GP 500 Tingstäde kyrka III, and GP 501 Tingstäde kyrka IV, but it is not clear whether it represents the top of a tall Type A picture stone or rather of a decorated kerbstone (1941/42 II, p. 132).
GP 499 Tingstäde kyrka II
GP 500 Tingstäde kyrka III
GP 501 Tingstäde kyrka IV

References 
Lundmark 1925, p. 172; Lindqvist 1941/42 II, p. 132, fig. 537.

 
Fyndplats
Bildsten observerades första gången före 1941, såsom trappsteg i torntrappan.

Nuvarande lokalisering
Samma placering som före 1941.

Beskrivning
Troligen fragment av en tidig bildsten (period A), synlig längd 74,5 cm. Spår av kantdekor.

Inskrift
Ingen inskrift

Datering
Kan inte dateras med säkerhet, men tillhör perioden 400-600.

Tolkning
Ingen tolkning

AA

Title
GP 503 Tingstäde kyrka VI

Fornsök ID 
L1976:6710

RAÄ ID 
Tingstäde 142:1

Jan Peder Lamm ID 
303

Lindqvist Title 
Tingstäde, Kirche VI

ATA
K-Samsök