GP 504 Tingstäde kyrka VII

Context and Discovery
The fragment is integrated as the second lintel stone from the bottom in the lowest part of the tower stairs, with its obverse facing vertically towards the west. The date of discovery is unknown, however, the fragment was known to Fredrik Nordin and Gabriel Gustafson (Lindqvist 1941/42 II, p. 132; see VI), which must have been shortly after 1910. 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 lateral edge of the monument. “Limestone slab, 13.5 cm thick. The obverse is smooth, probably hewn. The narrow side facing downwards, which likely formed the right side of the picture stone, partly was reworked when it was incorporated into the masonry. Originally, it probably was hewn flat at right angles towards the obverse, with a slightly more than 1 cm wide chamfer in between. Lengthwise, this narrow side was concave.” (Lindqvist 1941/42 II, p. 132). Parts of the preserved carvings are heavily weathered or damaged. The main elements of the decoration still visible, even though the stone is whitewashed today.

Description of Ornament and Images
Lindqvist (1941/42 II, p. 132) describes the carvings as follows: “The decoration is executed with carved lines and slightly chiselled background fields. The two grooves running along the chamfer, every second of the crescent fields forming the inside of the roundel (about 86 cm in diameter), and the spandrels of the roundel’s corona are chiselled. The roundel’s double contours and the few discernible remains of the lower limits of the picture stone’s upper horizontal border, as well as the band pattern in this border are executed exclusively with lines.” A drawing by Sörling reproduced in Lindqvist’s book (II, fig. 541) is the only published illustration of the stone. According to Lindqvist (II, p. 132), it was made based on calculations and measurements by Fredrik Nordin and a sketch by Gabriel Gustafson, and hardly represents the whole size of the fragment. Almost nothing of the band pattern mentioned by Lindqvist can be seen in the drawing. New investigations on the original and on the basis of 3D models could not confirm this pattern either. In any case, the drawing suggesting two lines as the lower edge of the horizontal border and a third vertical line of the lateral border does not seem to be entirely correct. A short third line running parallel to the lateral border line is indeed present, but it is much thinner and weaker. Whether it is perhaps to be interpreted as the spear of a warrior figure in the spandrel remains speculative, however.

Interpretation of the Imagery
No interpretation

Type and Dating
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. It represents the upper right corner of the picture stone. Although the small remains do not allow a definite classification, the preserved carvings correspond most closely to Lindqvist’s Brotypus (1941/42 I, pp. 27–28). However, Hauck (1983a, p. 543–544) regards the fragment as part of a small stone with a central roundel with whorl decoration as only motif, and thus assigns it to his type IV (Havor I-Typus).

References
Lundmark 1925, p. 172; Lindqvist 1941/42 II, p. 132, fig. 541; Hauck 1983a, p. 543; Guber 2011, p. 150 cat. no. 81.

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