Pictish Scotland

Introduction (skip to the photos)

For those who are interested in learning more, there are some excellent book to read:

• "Guide to Prehistoric Scotland" by Richard Feachem, Batsford ISBN 0 7134 3264 0.
• "Field Guide to the Pictish Symbol Stones" by Alastair Mack, Pinkfoot Press, ISBN 1 874012 06 7.
• "The Pictish Trail" by Anthony Jackson, The Orkney Press, ISBN 0 907618 18 9.
• "In Search of the Picts" by Elizabeth Sutherland, Constable and Company, ISBN 0 09 475010 6.

Pictish Symbol Stones

These stones were studied and classified by Joseph Anderson and Romilly Allen about sixty years ago. Part of this work was the classification of the stones into three distinct groups:

• Class I comprise designs which are incised onto natural (or roughly dressed) rocks. These contain no Christian references. They are thought to date from a period between the 4th and 9th centuries.
• Class II stones are typically a heavy upright slab, with Christian carvings on one face, and designs on the other face. The edges are sometimes covered with intricate patterns. A notable exception is Dyce II which has Christian and Pictish symbols carved on the same face.
• Class III stones are similar to Class II, but without the pre-christian designs.

Examples

Pictured below are some of the numerous Pictish symbol stones.

Abernethy Symbol Stone

The stone is now located on the side of the round tower at Abernethy. It was found in the village of Abernethy.

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This is a class I symbol stone.

Visible on the stone are: A tuning fork in the centre, with crescent and V-rod below, a hammer to the left and an anvil to the right. Part of the whorl-ended handle of the tuning fork has been removed. The central decoration of the crescent and V-rod is called a "pelta" pattern.

Brandsbutt Symbol Stone

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Brandsbutt pictish stone has been re-constructed after having been broken up and made into a stone wall. However, enough of it is intact to see a V-rod and crescent, a Z-rod and serpent, and a long inscription in the ancient alphabet Ogham.

The inscription, which is incomplete, reads "IRATADDOARENS", which has been linked with Eddarrnon, a possible rendering of St. Ethernanus, a local saint.

Brandsbutt symbol stone is located in Inverurie, 15 miles north of Aberdeen. It took its name from a farm, although the location is now a housing estate.

Broomend of Crichie Symbol Stone

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Broomend of Crichie standing stone has been carved with an elephant and a crescent and V-rod symbol. It is likely that one of the earlier standing stones in the area was re-used at a later date for this symbol stone.

See Broomend of Crichie Henge for information on the standing stones and henge surrounding this beautiful symbol stone.

Broomend of Crichie lies on the outskirts of Port Elphinstone, near Inverurie.

Clatt Symbol Stone

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This is a class I stone, found built into the wall of Clatt churchyard.

The stone depicts a horseshoe superimposed on an elephant. A scroll can just be made out in the elephant's shoulder.

As the stone was set upside down, the photograph has been inverted to show the beast the right way up. As a result, the stone appears to be lit from below.

Dunfallandy Symbol Stone

The stone is now located SSE of Pitlochry. It was moved from a chapel at Killiecrankie approximately 5 miles away.

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This is a class II symbol stone. Unfortunately, the custodians have seen fit to put it in a glass case, making photography extremely difficult. The top of the stone was obscured by reflections as was the entirety of the other side.

Visible on the stone are: two crescents and V-rod symbols, two elephant symbols, two seated figures, a warrior on horseback, an anvil, a hammer and tongs. The border comprises two elongated beasts with fishy tails.

Dunkeld Symbol Stone

This is a class III symbol stone, located in Dunkeld parish church.

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On one side (left) are depicted rows of people. The other side (right) depicts two horsemen. Little seems to be known about this stone - it is referred to locally as the "Apostle's Stone" and is said to depict Daniel in the lion's den and the feeding of the five thousand.

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Unfortunately, the stone is only briefly mentioned in "The Pictish Trail", and is not mentioned in any of the other books referred to at the top of this page.

Dyce Symbol Stones

These stones may be found in Chapel of St. Fergus kirk, now roofless. This is a few miles from Dyce (Aberdeen) airport, on the Kinaldie road.

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This is a class I stone with a beast above a double disc and Z-rod.

Two smaller, simpler stones appear in this picture; these are early medieval grave markers.

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This is a pictish cross-slab, type II (see above), which unusually has a cross and Pictish symbols carved on the same face. This contains crescent and V-rod, triple disc, mirror-case, double disc and Z-rod. The other face is un-carved.

There is an Ogham inscription on the edge of this stone, reading "Son of Rogoddodd", indicating that the stone may have been a personal memorial.

Two smaller, simpler stones appear in this picture; these are early medieval grave markers.

Elgin Cathedral Symbol Stone

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This is a pictish cross-slab, found in the centre of Elgin in 1823. It has interlace-filled cross and possibly two evangelists on one face, and a rectangular symbol, crescent and V-rod and a hunting scene on the other face.

The stone is now situated inside the grounds of Elgin cathedral. The picture has been re-touched to remove housing and cathedral architecture from the background.

Kintore Symbol Stone

This class I stone stands in the churchyard at Kintore, near Inverurie. Unusually for a class I stone, it has been carved on both sides. This suggests that it was re-used. The North face symbols are of a later style, and cruder in execution.

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On the North side (left) are a somewhat crude crescent and V-rod and an elephant. The crescent and V-rod are filled with a clumsy "dome-and-wing" decoration. The south side (right) has a fish and triple-disc. The way in which the bar passes through the outer discs and over the central disc, and the presence of the fish above, are suggestive of a caudron suspended from a cross-bar.

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Logierait Symbol Stone

This stone stands in the churchyard at Logierait, near Dunfallandy.

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On one side (left) are part of a spear-carrying horseman, a large-headed serpent with a straight spear-headed rod through its coils. Behind the spear-head are forward-facing curlicues and the butt is a curlicued ball-end. The other side (right) has a decorated cross typical of type-II symbol stones.

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Maiden Stone

The Maiden Stone is a class II symbol stone carved from red granite located near Chapel of Garioch, Aberdeenshire.

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On one face (left) are a man between fish monsters, an enriched cross and shaft, a panel with an enriched disc. The other face (right) has beasts and a centaur-like figure, a rectangle and Z-rod, an "elephant", a mirror and comb. The edges are decorated with interlaced patterns.

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Mortlach I, the "Battle Stone"

Mortlach I is a class II symbol stone located in Mortlach churchyard, near Dufftown, Moray. Two stones are depicted in the stained-glass windows of the church. One stands in the churchyard, and is shown below.

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On one face (left) are a cross, two fish and a beast. The other face (right) has a serpent, a bull's head and a horse with rider. The edges are rough.

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Myreton (AKA Picardy Stone)

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This is a class I pictish stone, depicting double-disc and Z-rod, serpent and Z-rod, and a mirror.

The stone stands in an enclosure by the roadside two miles from Insch.

Rhynie Symbol Stones

The stones shown here are all housed in a shelter near the end of Manse Road, Rhynie.

Another stone, the "Craw Stane", depicts a salmon and an elephant. Photograph to follow...

There are also two stones in Rhynie town square, but these are badly eroded and nothing is visible in the photographs.

523x800 JPEG, 95KB	This stone is decorated with a dog's head (the only example of this on a stone), a double disc, a Z-rod, a mirror and a comb. There are cup-marks on the back of the stone.
544x800 JPEG, 126KB	This stone has a double-disc and Z-rod, V-rod and crescent, and a mirror. The V-rod points differ, one being flighted and the other having a leaf-shaped head.
800x618 JPEG, 148KB	This stone shows an elephant, a comb, and part of an ogee. The lower part of the stone is missing.

St. Orland's Symbol Stone

This class II Pictish stone may be found in a field near Haughs of Cossans farm.

The Field Guide refers to a sign at the road-side, but this may have been removed. Access was particularly difficult.

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This stone has (from the top) two fish-monsters which extend down the sides of the stone, a V-rod and crescent above a double disc and z-rod, four figures riding horses accompanied by hounds, a ship containing several figures, and two animals - one possibly attacking the other.

Mysteriously, a panel appears to have been removed from the centre of the stone, which may have led to the breakage. The stone is now held together by two metal straps which run down the edges.

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