GP 555 Väskinde kyrka 7
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Parish Find Location ⓘVäskinde
Find Location ⓘVäskinde church
Find Context Classification ⓘChurch
Coordinate Find Location (lat) ⓘ6399417
Coordinate Find Location (long) ⓘ704015
Present Location Classification ⓘGotlands Museum Magasin Visborg
Coordinate Present Location (lat) ⓘ6390259
Coordinate Present Location (long) ⓘ695514
MaterialLimestone
Height ⓘ59
Width ⓘ77
Thickness ⓘ23
Lindqvist Type A (ca. 400-600)
Lindqvist Shape Tall stone
Context and Discovery ⓘDuring the restoration of the church in 1953, a fragment of an early picture stone was noticed in a door frame (report by Greta Arwidsson, GF Koncnr 114/53). The piece was reused in the stone walled frame of a small door leading to the tower stair. According to archival material, in September 1960, Erik Nylén took measures to remove the stone from the church and to bring it to Gotland’s Museum, as it was increasingly contaminated by oil leaking from a metal hinge attached above (ATA Go, Väskinde sn, Kyrkan, Dnr. 5932/60). Traces of original paint preserved on the stone were in danger to be affected as well. The National Heritage Board accepted Nylén’s application. The stone was removed, and a concrete stone is placed in the right half of the door frame today, replacing the picture stone fragment. Despite an intensive search, it was impossible to identify the fragment in the museum’s storage in Visborg (Oehrl 2019a, pp. 296–297). In March 2021, however, the stone was finally rediscovered during a thorough inventory control as part of the Ancient Images project.
In the late 13th century, a previous church was rebuilt and a new choir was erected. During the early 14th century, the rebuilding was completed by the erection of the current nave and tower. Thus, the picture stone must have been incorporated during the early 14th century or around 1300.
The other stones found during the church restauration in 1953 are GP 554 Väskinde kyrka 5 and GP 549 Väskinde kyrka 6, mentioned by Lindqvist in an article published in 1956 (Lindqvist 1956, pp. 27–30). Interestingly, the fragment No. 7 discussed here is not mentioned in Lindqvist’s article. The picture stones GP 546–548 and GP 557 (Väskinde kyrka I–IV) were published in “Gotlands Bildsteine”. GP0554GP 549 Väskinde kyrka 6GP 546 Väskinde kyrka IGP 547 Väskinde kyrka IIGP 548 Väskinde kyrka IVGP 557 Väskinde kyrka III
Measurements, Material and Condition ⓘThe roughly rectangular fragment represents approximately the middle part of the head of a very well hewn early-type picture stone. The slightly convex upper edge is preserved at the top, and the other three sides are broken edges. The monument is made of limestone, is 23 cm thick and measures 59 x 77 cm. In fact, various reddish and dark discolorations can be seen on the relatively flat and neatly worked surface, some of which come from oil, which according to Nylén’s report originates from an iron fitting (see IV). However, detailed examinations, conducted by Mike Fergusson, Per Widerström and Sigmund Oehrl in 2021, including UV light, did not reveal any remnants of the original painting that Nylén had suspected.
Description of Ornament and Images ⓘIn his list, Jan Peder Lamm notes that a whorl motif and two warriors are depicted on the fragment. These details are only mentioned here (Lamm/Nylén 2003, p. 199), and for a long time, since the stone was untraceable for half a century, there had been no chance to check this information. After the rediscovery of the stone in 2021, the carvings on it could be examined in detail with the help of 3D technology. At the upper edge, part of an elaborated horizontal border is visible, which shows a mirrored spiral pattern, as is characteristic for the stones of the Bro type. Below this is placed the upper half of a large roundel with a whorl motif. Every second crescent of the whorl is carved. In the corners to the left and right between the border and the roundel, a small human figure is carved, of which the one on the right is much better preserved. Both hold a round shield in which a spear is apparently stuck. This constellation confirms in an astonishing way the interpretation of GP 43 Bro kyrka I proposed by Oehrl (2019a, pp. 154–161, pls. 146–155) on the basis of RTI examinations and 3D modelling. Here Oehrl also reconstructed two warriors in the corners with spears in their shields and compared this battle scene with both corresponding Vendel period pressblech motifs and two warrior figures on GP 3 Alskog kyrka (pl. 155b–e) The almost unique fineness with which the figures were carved on the Väskinde stone is remarkable. Even the belt of the right fighter was carved precisely. The entire human figure is carved, and the tool marks are clearly visible and appear fresh. GP 43 Bro kyrka IGP0003
Interpretation of the Imagery ⓘAs Oehrl (2019a, pp. 157–159) has shown, the motif is to be regarded as a kind of ritualized duel in which the two opponents first throw spears at each other in order to open the fight before moving on to close combat. Parallels can be found in the imagery of the Vendel period and on the picture stone GP 3 Alskog kyrka (pl. 155b–e) on which the fighters hurl whole volleys of spears, some of which are stuck in their shields. Whether it is a judicial duel, an ordal, a famous duel from heroic legend or a battle in the afterlife cannot be determined. In some way, the duel must have been integrated into the cosmological-eschatological pictorial programme of the Migration Period picture stones. Concerning the possible interpretation of whorl and warrior motifs on Type A stones see in particular GP 350 Sanda kyrka IV and GP 537 Vallstena Vallstenarum I. GP0003GP 350 Sanda kyrka IVGP 537 Vallstena Vallstenarum (I)
Type and Dating ⓘTall early-type picture stone, ʻAbschnittʼ A according to Lindqvist’s typology, circa AD 400–600. The monument corresponds to Lindqvist’s Bro Typus.
References ⓘOehrl 2019a, pp. 296–297.
Påträffad vid restaureringen av Väskinde kyrka 1953. Fragmentet var inmurat i omfattningen till torndörren.
Nuvarande förvaringsplats
Fragmentet lär ha förts över till Gotlands Fornsal 1960 men kan nu inte återfinnas. Stenen är försvunnen.
Beskrivning
Enligt vad som påstås i äldre uppgifter framställer fragmentet två krigare och ett virvelhjul som är typiska för folkvandringstidens bildstenar. Fotografier, ritningar eller beskrivningar finns inte. Tydligen företer stenen färgspår, det vill säga rester av ursprunglig (folkvandringstida?) bemålning.
Datering
Ungefär 400–600 e.Kr. (folkvandringstiden).
Tolkning
För en möjlig tolkning av krigare och virvelhjul motiv se särskild GP 350 Sanda kyrka IV och GP 537 Vallstena Vallstenarum I.
SO GP 350 Sanda kyrka IVGP 537 Vallstena Vallstenarum (I)
TitleGP 555 Väskinde kyrka 7
Fornsök ID ⓘL1976:8460
RAÄ ID ⓘVäskinde 120:3
Jan Peder Lamm ID334
Last modifed Sep 13, 2024 Developer Data Identifier: GP0555-3DID: 50863D-modelPart1 Depth nullPart1 RGB null