Pictish stones
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Pictish stones are to be found in Scotland, predominantly north of the Clyde-Forth line, and are the most visible remaining evidence of their makers, the Picts.
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[edit] Purpose and meaning
The purpose and meaning of the stones are still uncertain, but they probably served as personal memorials, the symbols indicating membership of clans, lineages, or kindreds. A small number have been found in association with burials (but most are not in their original locations). It is possible that they had subsidiary uses, such as marking tribal or lineage territories. It has also been suggested that the symbols could have been some kind of pictographic system of writing.
There are approximately 35 different symbols on the stones, of which there are several categories. These include abstract symbols without obvious meaning which are assigned arbitrary descriptive names by researchers (eg. crescent and V-rod, double disc and Z-rod), and realistic outline pictures of animals (eg. adder, salmon, wolf, stag, eagle, and the fantastic 'Pictish beast'). The final category is that of recognisable objects, notable the mirror and comb (possible female symbol?). Almost all the symbol stones have symbols arranged in pairs (some have multiple pairs), with or without the addition (always below the other symbols) of the mirror and comb. Hence the theory that they represent lineage or kindred, ie. the two parents/clans.
The symbols are also found (rarely) on jewellery, eg. the silver plaques from the Norrie's Law hoard (found in Fife, in the early 19th century). They have sometimes been found on other movable objects too, including small stone discs and bones (predominantly from the Northern Isles). Simple or primitive forms of the symbols are carved on the walls of coastal caves at East Wemyss, Fife, and Covesea, Moray.
[edit] Classification
In their groundbreaking study, The Early Christian Monuments of Scotland (1903) J Romilly Alien and Joseph Anderson first classified Pictish stones into three groups. The system's detractors note that several exceptions feature elements of more than one class. But even those who criticize the system seem to find it useful as it is widely known and still used in the field.
- Class 1 — unworked stones with symbols only incised. There is no cross on either side. Class 1 stones date back to the 6th, 7th and 8th centuries.
- Class 2 — stones of more or less rectangular shape with a large cross and symbol(s) on one or both sides. The symbols, as well as Christian motifs, are carved in relief and the cross with its surroundings is filled with designs. Class 2 stones date from the 8th and 9th centuries.
- Class 3 — these stones feature no Pictish symbols. The stones can be cross-slabs, recumbent gravemarkers, free-standing crosses, and composite stone shrines. They originate in the 8th or 9th century.
[edit] Sites
Only a few stones still stand at their original sites; most have been moved to museums in order to protect them.
- Dunblane Cathedral, Dunblane — this Class 3 stone was found in the foundations of Dunblane Cathedral during restoration. It can be found inside the Cathedral.
- Perth Museum, Perth — collection of 3 Pictish stones, St Madoes 1, Inchyra and Gellyburn.
- Inverness Museum, Castle Wynd, Inverness — collection of 8 Class 1 stones, including the Adross Wolf and Deer's Head, and a fragment that matches a piece in Dunrobin Castle.
- Knocknagael Boar Stone, Highland Council HQ, Glenurquhart St, Inverness — Class 1 stone to be seen through a large window. Found at Knocknagael on the outskirts of Inverness.
- Groam House Museum, Rosemarkie — collection of fragments of Pictish stones and a Class 2 cross-slab. The museum also has a collection of photographs of Pictish stones in Scotland.
- Churchyard Stone, Strathpeffer — Class 1 stone
- Clach a'Mheirlich, Rosskeen — Class 1 stone in a field.
- Shandwick Stone, Shandwick — Class 2 cross-slab protected by glass shelter.
- Tarbat Discovery Centre, Portmahomack — large collection of excavated fragments and information about the Picts.
- Nigg Stone, Nigg inside the former parish church — Class 2 cross-slab. A fragment of it can be found in Tain Museum
- Tain and District Museum, Tain — Class 1 stone in the yard and fragments from Edderton churchyard and Nigg in the museum.
- Sharp Stone (Clach Biorach), Edderton — Class 1 stone in a field (probable original position), viewable from the roadside.
- Kincardine Old Church, Ardgay — coffin-shaped monument.
- Eagle Stone (Clach an Tiompain), Strathpeffer — early Class 1 stone.
- St. Demhan's Cross, Creich — unworked stone with a cross, not fitting in any of the classifications.
- Dunfallandy Stone (Clach an t-Sagar), Pitlochry — fine Class 2 stone (Historic Scotland).
- Dunrobin Castle Museum, Golspie — collection of over 20 Class 1 and 2 Pictish stones collected by the Dukes of Sutherland.
- St Vigeans Museum, Arbroath — collection of Pictish and medieval stones. Includes the Drosten Stone, a class 2 cross-slab, one of only two Pictish symbol-stones to carry a non-ogham inscription. Key from Arbroath Abbey or keyholder in village (Historic Scotland).
- Aberlemno Pictish stones, Aberlemno — three slabs by the roadside and one in the churchyard (Historic Scotland). Boxed during winter months.
- Elgin Museum, High St, Elgin — large collection, largely from Kinneddar churchyard.
- Sueno's Stone, Forres — 6.5m-high cross-slab (tallest in British Isles) dating from 9th or 10th century protected by glass (Historic Scotland).
- Meigle Pictish Stones, Meigle, near Forfar — Museum in converted school which features possibly the richest display of stones in Scotland (Historic Scotland, entrance charge).
- Tote Stone, Tote on the Isle of Skye — Class 1 stone in small fenced enclosure.
- Trusty's Hill, near Anwoth, Dumfries and Galloway — a series of Class 2 stones.
[edit] See Also
[edit] External links
- The Highland Council Archaeology Unit — This webpage offers a leaflet in PDF-format about a Pictish Trail from Inverness to Golspie
- Undiscovered Scotland — Page about the Meigle Pictish Stones Museum with links to other relevant online resources.
