GP 115 Grötlingbo Barshaldershed 1

Context and Discovery ⓘ
The stone was found in the southern part of the large burial ground complex that is named after the region Barshaldershed (also Barshalder or Barshaldar) in Grötlingbo (and Fide) parish, in which it is located. This southern area belongs to Uddvide farm (Uddvide 1:20). The Uddvide cemetery (RAÄ Grötlingbo 1:1) is situated about 400 m southwest of the main part of the Barshaldershed necropolis. While the latter contains mainly graves from the Vendel and Viking Periods (more than 2000 visible grave constructions, thus representing one of the largest cemeteries on the island; Rundkvist 2003), the Uddvide site represents the Late Roman and Early Migration Period. It was excavated during the 1970s and 1980s, prompted by the expansion of the local sandstone quarry (Äijä 1977; 1979; 1980; RAÄ dnr 3.4.2-820-2015; ATA 321-2853-2001).

The picture stone fragment was found in 1979 placed in the inner stone kerb of a cairn, grave no. 2329. According to the excavator Karin Äijä (1980, p. 121), there were two fragments of a picture stone, but in her publication she presents only one of them (picture on p. 120). Also, in the book by Lamm/Nylén (2003, pp. 158–159) as well as in Lamm’s list (no. 380) only this one piece, apparently the upper part, i.e., the head of an early picture stone, is taken into account; there is no mention of another fragment, and no corresponding piece could be found in the storerooms of Gotlands Museum. Under the stone layer of the mound was an undisturbed cremation burial in a stone cist. It contained a silver rod, 2 brooches, 2 dress pins, a dress clasp, burnt copper alloy fragments, molten blue glass, a comb, and a stamp-decorated pot (Rundkvist 2012, p. 152). The grave goods date the burial to the 5th century (see IX).

Measurements, Material and Condition ⓘ
The fragment, which, remarkably, is made of sandstone (see IX), represents the upper part, i.e., the head of a small picture stone and is 35 cm high, 55 cm wide, and 14 thick. The top is somewhat convex, almost ogival, and the corners protrude somewhat. Part of the two lateral edges are preserved; the stone becomes narrower towards the bottom. A small piece at the top is broken off. The edges are not chamfered. The surface of the stone shows numerous traces of processing, i.e., tool marks, which can be described as herringbone patterns and are reminiscent of tool marks on medieval building stones. The fragment appears to preserve an early stage of manufacturing, just after the stonemason had straightened the surface with iron tools and chiselled away irregularities, but before the surface was polished in order to make it ready for decoration. This is a unique find. Apparently, the stone was considered unsuitable, possibly because it had broken during processing, and was therefore never finished and used in the grave construction instead – a waste slab from a stone carver’s workshop, recycled in a contemporary burial (Äijä 1980, p. 121).

Description of Ornament and Images ⓘ
No decoration, only tool marks (see V).

Interpretation of the Imagery ⓘ
No interpretations

Type and Dating ⓘ
Probably an early-type dwarf stone, “Abschnitt” A according to Lindqvist’s typology, dating to the period between AD 400 and 600 – even if the shape of this stone is somewhat unusual. With the somewhat convex, almost pointed arched upper edge and protruding corners, the contour of the small monument is reminiscent of the shapes of Vendel period picture stones (type B). The special situation in which the fragment was found, integrated into the inner stone kerb of a Migration Period cairn, makes it possible to date the ʻpicture stoneʼ more precisely. The grave goods found in the stone cist include two well-preserved brooches, which can be dated to the 5th century (Lamm/Nylén 2003, pp. 158–159). Rundkvist assigns these late tapered-foot fibulae (type fibpoin2) to his phase GoD1a, to the beginning of the Migration Period and dates them to around AD 400 (2003 2, pp. 20, 28; 2012, p. 146).

The picture stone must therefore have been made around or before AD 400. If the excavator’s interpretation is correct and the stone, which was perhaps originally intended to be erected on top of the burial mound, had broken during manufacture and was therefore used directly in the stone construction as building material instead, the monument can only be marginally older than the burial itself. Thus, the dating of the stone confirms the dating of “Abschnitt” A to the 5th century, as established by Lindqvist on the basis of art historical considerations, i.e., comparisons with items decorated in the Sösdala and Sjörup styles (1941/1942 I, pp. 108–115). This conclusion is not compelling. The undecorated fragment of the ʻpicture stoneʼ could also have been incorporated into the grave construction a long time after its creation. AD 400 is a terminus ante quem. If the stone belongs to the 4th century, then it would be about as old as other worked sandstones from kerbs on this very burial ground, which feature similar chisel marks (Äijä 1980, p. 121).

Furthermore, the material of the stone is remarkable. There are only a few more than 20 picture stones known which are made of sandstone, most of them Type E stones and only a few Type C stones. At least two Type A stones (Grötlingbo Barshaldershed 1 and GP 324 Unknown Find Spot, perhaps also GP 116 Grötlingbo Barshaldershed 2) and some kerbstones (GP 236 Linde Duckarve) are made of sandstone as well.
GP0324
GP 116 Grötlingbo Uddvide
GP 236 Linde Duckarve

References ⓘ
Äijä 1980a–b; Lamm/Nylén 2003, pp. 158–159, figs. 1–3; Rundkvist 2012, pp. 146, 152; Oehrl 2019a, p. 9.

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