r/VikingArt

Unusual discovery of a picture stone in Hölö! During our survey in Ekeby outside of Hölö, we have made an unusual discovery in a grave that can likely be dated to the Migration Period, approx. 400–550 AD. When Tamara and Karolina examined the grave, they saw that there was ornamentation on a large limestone. On one side, there were three identical circular figures, each with a pit in the middle surrounded by two concentric rings. Similar circular figures were present on the other side, and it is possible that further ornamentation will emerge once the stone has been cleaned and analyzed properly. The upper edge of our stone also had a finely rounded shape that we believe is worked. The stone is a so-called picture stone, which is an unusual find; there are only about forty previously known in the Mälardalen region. They were often made of red sandstone or, as in our case, white crystalline limestone. That type of limestone occurs naturally in our local area, but within the survey area, this primary limestone has not been encountered in the bedrock, so our stone has likely been moved to Ekeby, though perhaps not from very far away. Picture stones from Mälardalen generally have geometric patterns, just like our new find, but there are also some other figures. The circle motifs from our picture stone are also found on other picture stones and have sometimes been suggested to be representations of the sun, shields, or wheels. Our stone was lying on the ground when we found it, but it was likely originally standing. The stone has now been brought into our office for documentation, and it will be cleaned carefully and then 3D-scanned so that we can identify all ornamentation and any tool marks.

Link to Swedish text

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