right|thumb|200px|The [[Stora Hammars stones|Stora Hammars I stone.]]

A picture stone, image stone or figure stone is an ornate slab of stone, usually limestone, which was raised in Germanic Iron Age or Viking Age Scandinavia, and in the greatest number on Gotland. More than four hundred picture stones are known today. All of the stones were probably erected as memorial stones,

Groups

The dating of the stones is based on studies of their shapes and ornamentations. Subsequently, three distinct groups of stones exist with various aesthetics, locations and purposes.

AD 400–600

The first group of picture stones was made in the period 400–600. These have a straight form and the upper part is shaped like the edge of an axe. The ornamentations are usually circular forms with vortex patterns and spirals, but also with images of ships, people, and animals. These older stones were usually raised within grave fields, albeit not on the graves themselves.

Notes and references

Individual image stones

  • Ardre stone
  • Hunnestad Monument
  • Ledberg stone
  • Viking art
  • The Snake-witch stone
  • Stora Hammars stones
  • Tängelgärda stone
  • Pictures of stones at Bunge Museum, Bunge, Gotland, Sweden
  • The Picture Stone Hall, Gotland Museum, Visby, Sweden