Scenic spot Skatelöv
My trip to Skatelöv paid off. I got some photos of the rune stone Sm 6, the “picture stones” and more.
Sm 6. The size and form of the rune stone is that of a tombstone, but the outlay of the inscriptions and decorations seems more a test inscription but the inscription says otherwise.
Inscription: bosi : tlhi kirki þ bosi : ta=lhi sten til skatma kirkiu
In translation:
“Bósi cut the church. … Bósi cut the stone to the church of the Skatamen(?).”
Skatamen should probably an earlier form for Skatelöv, for example the men of Skate…
An animal carved in the style of those found on rune stones, but this is probably carved as an adornment on the church.
Two stones with figurative carvings, they are rather worn so it’s hard to interpret them. Both have probably been carved as some form of adornments. If tou look close enough on the stone to the left it is easy to make your self believe that there are carved runes on it, especially up in the left upper corner: After a while I was sure that I could see at least three runes: t, k, i/a. But I am pretty sure this is just an illusion or a wish to see runes.
In the church is also the medieval baptismal font.
On the wall of the church hangs a painting from 1698 with the name Pet. Rudbeck that is of interest, behind the mythological beast with the crossbow is a rune stone and a prehistoric grave field.
Details of the rune stone and the prehistoric gravefield.
On another wall, in the tower there, is a painting that shows us how the medieval church looked. It was demolished in 1820.
The medieval church stood on a small cape with a beautiful view. In the cemetery one can still see the church foundation.
On the cemetery the tombstone over Gunnar Olof Hyltén-Cavallius is raised, in the style of a rune stone in a small mound. According to inscription Gunnar Olof Hyltén Cavallius was born on March 18th 1818 and died in June 5th 1889, it also states that the stone was set by people from Småland.
Gunnar Olof Hyltén-Cavallius is perhaps best known as an ethnologist. His greatest legacy is that in Swedish archaeology and ethnology, he founded the first provincial museum in Sweden, Smålands Museum. He was also one of the founders of Svenska fornminnesföreningen (The Swedish association for ancient remains).
Magnus Reuterdahl
