[colorado tanker]

This seems to be a variation on the Tree of Life, the ancient fertility symbol. It's a very unusual piece, however, for Medieval Western Europe.

I'd hate to think any modern Western art scholar would deface a painting in restoration by altering its appearance.

[SunkenCiv]

The Middle Ages produced some very powerful and very odd art like Bosch and Grunevald:

http://www.sci-fi-o-rama.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/gruen.jpg
http://gatesthecomic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/hieronymus_bosch_hal-hefner_gates_heavy-metal-1.jpg