'Absolutely outstanding' 12-century picture stone unearthed in Germany likely depicts bishop who brought Christianity to region

 News

By Laura Geggel

 published 3 days ago

A 12th-century stone carving discovered in northern Germany may depict Otto of Bamberg, a bishop and missionary.

The newfound carving is the only known picture stone to include a cross. (Image credit: ©LAKD MV

A man doing home construction in Germany has discovered a rare boulder with a 12th-century carving — a "picture stone" that may depict a Christian bishop who visited the area around 800 years ago.

The medieval find is a "sensation," as there are only about 20 other known picture stones in the region, Detlef Jantzen, chief archaeologist of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the state where it was found, told Live Science. Known in German as "bildstein," these stones have been found along the Baltic coast in parts of what is now Germany and Poland. While they vary in style and form, they typically show people with a few identifying attributes, such as clothing.

Read the rest: https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/absolutely-outstanding-12-century-picture-stone-unearthed-in-germany-likely-depicts-bishop-who-brought-christianity-to-region