Aberlemno

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The Kirkyard Stone

Aberlemno (Gaelic: Obar Leamhnach) is a parish and small village in the Scottish council area of Angus. It is noted for three large carved Pictish stones (and one fragment) dating from the 7th and 8th centuries AD (Historic Scotland); the stones can be viewed at any time in spring-autumn, but are covered by wooden boxes in the winter to prevent frost damage. Two stones (and the fragment) stand by the B9134 Forfar-Brechin road, the Kirkyard Stone stands in the nearby graveyard of the parish church.

The eastern Class I stone (fragment) is highly eroded and the incised symbols are extremely difficult to make out. This stone is thought to be unfinished or a later fake. This stone is known as Aberlemno V.

The centre stone is a Class I (unshaped, incised) standing stone with three deeply incised Pictish symbols on one face: the serpent, the double disc and Z-rod and the mirror and comb. The meaning of these symbols is unknown. The other face of the stone exhibits prehistoric cup marks, showing that it has been re-used. This stone is known as Aberlemno I.

The Western Stone is a Class 2 stone showing a Celtic Cross on one side, and a battle scene on the reverse. This stone is known as Aberlemno III.

The Kirkyard Stone is another Class 2 stone, the west face is inscribed with a Celtic Cross flanked by patterns, the east with a battle scene, reputedly depicting the battle of Nechtansmere. A hole has been bored through the upper part of the stone some time after its sculpting. This stone is known as Aberlemno II.