The raw material preferences for producing picture stones on Gotland

Hänsel P, Oehrl S, Widerström P, Ideström L, Munnecke A (2024)

Publication Language: English

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2024

Journal

Fornvännen. Journal of Swedish Antiquarian Research Kungl. Vitterhetsakademien

Book Volume: 119

Pages Range: 252 - 273

Journal Issue: 4

Abstract

The picture stones on Gotland are monuments from the late Scandinavian Iron
Age, which are important for the archaeological research about the North Germanic
culture. Their imagery is also a valuable source for the pre-Christian
religion in Scandinavia. Most of them are produced of Silurian limestones which
are dated 423 to 433 million years. The Gotlandic picture stones were produced
of thickly bedded limestones which are exposed in the vicinity of fossil reefs
and carbonate platforms. Archaeologically, the picture stones can be classified
into five groups (A to E stones), and an informal sixth group (so-called blind
C/D/E stones). Geologically, the picture stone raw materials can be sorted into
six different types based on visual facies analysis. The purpose of our paper is to
investigate the raw material preferences for single picture stone types. According
to our results, coarse and fine reef debris limestones were the most frequently used
rock types. For the B stones, crinoidal limestone was preferentially used because
of its sparkling effect of the crinoid remains in sunlight. However, the availability
of nearby thickly bedded limestones was the most important prerequisite to
produce most of the picture stones.

Authors with CRIS profile

Patrick Hänsel Professur für Paläontologie (Schwerpunkt Faziesanalyse) Axel Munnecke Professur für Paläontologie (Schwerpunkt Faziesanalyse)

Involved external institutions

Gotlands Museum SE Sweden (SE) University of Stavanger / Universitetet i Stavanger NO Norway (NO)

How to cite

APA:

Hänsel, P., Oehrl, S., Widerström, P., Ideström, L., & Munnecke, A. (2024). The raw material preferences for producing picture stones on Gotland. Fornvännen. Journal of Swedish Antiquarian Research, 119(4), 252 - 273.

MLA:

Hänsel, Patrick, et al. "The raw material preferences for producing picture stones on Gotland." Fornvännen. Journal of Swedish Antiquarian Research 119.4 (2024): 252 - 273.

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