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. Motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (English: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within Europe Scotlands location within the United Kingdom Languages English, Gaelic, Scots Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area - Total - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 km² 1. ... The Pictish Strathpeffer eagle stone, Highland, Scotland. ...

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. A clan is a group of people united by kinship and descent, which is defined by perceived descent from a common ancestor. ...

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. Fife (Fìobh in Gaelic) is a council area of Scotland, situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with landward boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Northern Isles are a chain of islands off the north coast of Scotland. ... East Wemyss Situated on the East Coast of the Kingdom of Fife, East Wemyss is celebrated for its pictish cave drawings the coastal village was and still is a keen spot for fisher men. ... Fife (Fìobh in Gaelic) is a council area of Scotland, situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with landward boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire. ... Moray (Moireibh in Gaelic), one of the 32 unitary council regions (or areas) of Scotland, lies in the north-east of the country and borders on the regions of Aberdeenshire and Highland. ...

Classification

Pictish stones conventionally are divided into three groups:

• 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 rectangular shape with a large cross on one side and symbols on the other. 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 — on these stones no Pictish symbols can be found. The stones can be cross-slabs, recumbent gravemarkers, free-standing crosses, and composite stone shrines. They originate in the 8th or 9th century.

A Greek cross (all arms of equal length) above a saltire, a cross rotated by 45 degrees For other uses, see Cross (disambiguation). ... This Buddhist stela from China, Northern Wei period, was built in the early 6th century. ... The 7th century is the period from 601 - 700 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian Era. ... (7th century — 8th century — 9th century — other centuries) Events The Iberian peninsula is taken by Arab and Berber Muslims, thus ending the Visigothic rule, and starting almost 8 centuries of Muslim presence there. ... A Christian is a follower of Jesus, whom they regard as a/the Christ. ... As a means of recording the passage of time the 9th century was that century that lasted from 801 to 900. ...

Sites

Pictish stone in Dunblane Cathedral

Only a few stones still stand at their original sites; most have been moved to museums in order to protect them. Download high resolution version (700x926, 126 KB)Pictish stone (front and back) found in Dunblane. ... Download high resolution version (700x926, 126 KB)Pictish stone (front and back) found in Dunblane. ...

• 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.

The Strathpeffer Eagle Stone

• 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, 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.

Dunblane is a small town north of Stirling in the Stirling council area in Scotland. ... Dunblane Cathedral is the larger of the two parish churches serving Dunblane in Scotland. ... The Royal Burgh of Perth (Peairt in Scottish Gaelic) is a large burgh in central Scotland. ... Inverness (Inbhir Nis in Scottish Gaelic) is the only city in the Scottish Highlands. ... Dunrobin Castle is a stately home in Sutherland, north east Scotland. ... Inverness (Inbhir Nis in Scottish Gaelic) is the only city in the Scottish Highlands. ... Inverness (Inbhir Nis in Scottish Gaelic) is the only city in the Scottish Highlands. ... Rosemarkie is a village on the Black Isle in the Scottish Highlands, lying a quarter of a mile east of the village of Fortrose. ... Strathpeffer is a village and former Spa town in the Scottish Highlands, 5 miles west of Dingwall with a population of 1,469 [1]. It lies in a valley, with varying elevation from 200 to 400 feet above sea level, but is sheltered on the west and north and has... Landward, secular side. ... Shandwick, a village near Tain in Easter Ross, Scotland. ... Portmahomack is a small fishing village in Easter Ross, Scotland. ... Tain is a royal burgh in the committee area of Ross and Cromarty, in the Highland area of Scotland. ... Tain is a royal burgh in the committee area of Ross and Cromarty, in the Highland area of Scotland. ... Ardgay railway station is a railway station serving the village of Ardgay in the Highlands in the north of Scotland. ... Image File history File links Pictish_stone_strathpeffer_eagle. ... Image File history File links Pictish_stone_strathpeffer_eagle. ... Strathpeffer is a village and former Spa town in the Scottish Highlands, 5 miles west of Dingwall with a population of 1,469 [1]. It lies in a valley, with varying elevation from 200 to 400 feet above sea level, but is sheltered on the west and north and has... Pitlochry (Baile Chloichridh in Gaelic) is a burgh in Perthshire, Scotland, lying on the River Tummel within the council area of Perth and Kinross. ... Historic Scotland is the Scottish agency looking after historic monuments. ... Golspie is a small,coastal village in the far North of Scotland. ... The ruined Arbroath Abbey, built from local red sandstone. ... The Drosten Stone is a carved Pictish stone of the 9th century at St Vigeans, near Arbroath, Scotland. ... Ogham (Old Irish Ogam) was an alphabet used primarily to represent Gaelic languages. ... Arbroath Abbey, showing distinctive sandstone colouring. ... Historic Scotland is the Scottish agency looking after historic monuments. ... Aberlemno is a town in the Scottish council area of Angus. ... Historic Scotland is the Scottish agency looking after historic monuments. ... Elgin is a town in Moray the North of Scotland. ... Suenos Stone in Forres Suenos Stone is an ancient Pictish standing stone—standing 23 feet high—on a major road junction. ... Suenos Stone in Forres The Royal Burgh of Forres (Gaelic: Farrais), an ancient burgh, is situated in the north of Scotland on the Moray coast. ... metre or meter, see meter (disambiguation) A metre or meter[1] (symbol: m) is a unit of length and the current base unit of length in the International System of Units (SI). ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into British and Irish Isles. ... Historic Scotland is the Scottish agency looking after historic monuments. ... The Royal Burgh of Forfar is a burgh of approximately 13,500 people, located in the unitary authority of Angus in Scotland. ... Historic Scotland is the Scottish agency looking after historic monuments. ... A totalisator or totalizator (tote board in common parlance) is the name for the computerised system which runs parimutuel betting, calculating payoff odds, displaying them, and producing tickets based on incoming bets. ... Looking towards Quiraing, Skye. ...

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.