Everyone has heard of the Picts, the confederation of northern tribes that fought against the Romans, but we know little about them. They left no written language and the only records are their carved stones.
The Pictish Kingdom spread from the far north of Scotland to the River Forth. The Picts developed from tribes in Iron Age Scotland and formed a unique cultural and political identity. They were a warrior people led by powerful kings and lords. Initially pagan, they became Christianised around 700AD and disappeared from history around 900AD. The Vikings were responsible for wiping out many of the Pictish nobility in a battle in 839AD. A few years late, Cinead (Kenneth) MacAlpine, a Gaelic king from Dál Riata in the mid C9th, brought together the remaining Picts along with other tribes, into a new kingdom of Alba which eventually became Scotland.
There are few examples of Pictish settlements. Burghead on the coast of the Moray Firth, north east of Elgin, is the site of a major Pictish Fort. The fort occupied the headland but much of the site was destroyed when a planned town was built in the early C19th. Now all that remains are a few grassy ramparts and a ditch - not a lot to see. The small Visitors Centre has examples of carved stones.
The Pictish Well is now surrounded by C19th housing. Steps lead down to a central pool fed by an underground spring. It may have been an important water supply for the settlement or an early Christian baptistry. Alternatively, it may have been a shrine to pagan water deities, or even a place of ritual execution by drowning...
Carved Pictish stones are found all over northern Scotland. The earliest date from around 600AD and predate the arrival of Christianity. These were unshaped stones with simple symbols carved onto the surface of the stone. These include animals, mirror and comb as well as the enigmatic double discs and Z or V-rods. The significance of some of the symbols is still unclear.
There are good examples of these simple stones in the porch of Inveravon Church in Morayshire, with their carving of an eagle, mirror, comb and V-rods.
Other examples with a carved serpent, double discs and Z-rod can be seen at Inverurie Cemetery, although these are now much eroded .
Later stones dating from 700AD are described as ‘cross slab stones’ as one side has a Christian cross which may be embellished with interlaced patterns, in typical Celtish designs. The stones are more carefully shaped before carving and designs are either picked out by incision or else left in in relief by removing the background. There are often figures or animals carved down the length of the cross shaft. The reverse side of the stone was decorated with Pictish symbols. These are the most commonly found stones.
The collection of stones at Aberlemno, illustrate how the carving of Pictish stones developed. The Roadside Stones are found on the south side of the B9134 through the village. The oldest of the stones, known as Aberlemno 1, is the furthest from the village. This was originally found in the field behind and re-erected here. Dating from the C6/7th, this is an unshaped stone with incised Pictish symbols. At the top is a serpent with a Z-rod below cutting through a double disc. At the base is a mirror and comb. On the back are traces of cup marks suggesting it has been reused.
The most southerly stone, Aberlemno 3, nearest the car park is an example of a cross slab stone with a high relief Celtic cross on the front with raised bosses. On either side of the shaft are angels holding a book.
On the reverse is a beautiful crescent with interlacing and a V-rod through it. Below is a double disc with Z-rod. Below is a hunting scene with four mounted men, three stags and three dogs. At the base is a depiction of what is thought to be Daniel in the lion’s den.
The best and most exciting is the cross slab Aberlemno 2, outside the church. This is often described as the ‘Battle Stone’ . It dates from the C8th and has been carefully shaped. (Ignore the hole at the top of the slab which was carved later.) On the front is a cross standing out in high relief with circles and interlacing. There are entwined beasts on either side of the shaft.
The reverse is thought to commemorate the Battle of Nechtansmere fought in 685AD. The site of the battle is thought to be about six miles south of Aberlemno. Around 650, Northumbrian Angles had spread northward into Pictland. One had married a Pictish princess and fathered a future king. For thirty years the Angles had held the southern part of Pictland until they were defeated in a decisive battle of Nechtansmere. The long-haired Picts are clearly victorious over the helmeted Northumbrians (Angles).
There are three battle scenes. At the top is a Pictish warrior with his sword raised and chasing a weaponless Anglian horseman. Below, a group of three Pictish warriors on foot with swords, shields and spears, confront an Anglian horseman armed with a spear. This may show how the Picts actually fought in battle. The front rank wielded sword and shield, covered by the second rank with their spears lowered to protect the swordsmen and ward off mounted warriors. Behind that the third rank of the Pictish battle line would stand in reserve. Below are mounted Pictish and Anglian horsemen fighting. The Anglian horseman on the right has drawn back his horse’s head to steady him and is about to throw his spear. The Pictish warrior has his shield raised to ward off the blow, and is preparing to hurl his own spear. On the right is a dead Anglian warrior with a raven pecking at this body.
Cont....
The Pictish Kingdom spread from the far north of Scotland to the River Forth. The Picts developed from tribes in Iron Age Scotland and formed a unique cultural and political identity. They were a warrior people led by powerful kings and lords. Initially pagan, they became Christianised around 700AD and disappeared from history around 900AD. The Vikings were responsible for wiping out many of the Pictish nobility in a battle in 839AD. A few years late, Cinead (Kenneth) MacAlpine, a Gaelic king from Dál Riata in the mid C9th, brought together the remaining Picts along with other tribes, into a new kingdom of Alba which eventually became Scotland.
There are few examples of Pictish settlements. Burghead on the coast of the Moray Firth, north east of Elgin, is the site of a major Pictish Fort. The fort occupied the headland but much of the site was destroyed when a planned town was built in the early C19th. Now all that remains are a few grassy ramparts and a ditch - not a lot to see. The small Visitors Centre has examples of carved stones.
The Pictish Well is now surrounded by C19th housing. Steps lead down to a central pool fed by an underground spring. It may have been an important water supply for the settlement or an early Christian baptistry. Alternatively, it may have been a shrine to pagan water deities, or even a place of ritual execution by drowning...
Carved Pictish stones are found all over northern Scotland. The earliest date from around 600AD and predate the arrival of Christianity. These were unshaped stones with simple symbols carved onto the surface of the stone. These include animals, mirror and comb as well as the enigmatic double discs and Z or V-rods. The significance of some of the symbols is still unclear.
There are good examples of these simple stones in the porch of Inveravon Church in Morayshire, with their carving of an eagle, mirror, comb and V-rods.
Other examples with a carved serpent, double discs and Z-rod can be seen at Inverurie Cemetery, although these are now much eroded .
Later stones dating from 700AD are described as ‘cross slab stones’ as one side has a Christian cross which may be embellished with interlaced patterns, in typical Celtish designs. The stones are more carefully shaped before carving and designs are either picked out by incision or else left in in relief by removing the background. There are often figures or animals carved down the length of the cross shaft. The reverse side of the stone was decorated with Pictish symbols. These are the most commonly found stones.
The collection of stones at Aberlemno, illustrate how the carving of Pictish stones developed. The Roadside Stones are found on the south side of the B9134 through the village. The oldest of the stones, known as Aberlemno 1, is the furthest from the village. This was originally found in the field behind and re-erected here. Dating from the C6/7th, this is an unshaped stone with incised Pictish symbols. At the top is a serpent with a Z-rod below cutting through a double disc. At the base is a mirror and comb. On the back are traces of cup marks suggesting it has been reused.
The most southerly stone, Aberlemno 3, nearest the car park is an example of a cross slab stone with a high relief Celtic cross on the front with raised bosses. On either side of the shaft are angels holding a book.
On the reverse is a beautiful crescent with interlacing and a V-rod through it. Below is a double disc with Z-rod. Below is a hunting scene with four mounted men, three stags and three dogs. At the base is a depiction of what is thought to be Daniel in the lion’s den.
The best and most exciting is the cross slab Aberlemno 2, outside the church. This is often described as the ‘Battle Stone’ . It dates from the C8th and has been carefully shaped. (Ignore the hole at the top of the slab which was carved later.) On the front is a cross standing out in high relief with circles and interlacing. There are entwined beasts on either side of the shaft.
The reverse is thought to commemorate the Battle of Nechtansmere fought in 685AD. The site of the battle is thought to be about six miles south of Aberlemno. Around 650, Northumbrian Angles had spread northward into Pictland. One had married a Pictish princess and fathered a future king. For thirty years the Angles had held the southern part of Pictland until they were defeated in a decisive battle of Nechtansmere. The long-haired Picts are clearly victorious over the helmeted Northumbrians (Angles).
There are three battle scenes. At the top is a Pictish warrior with his sword raised and chasing a weaponless Anglian horseman. Below, a group of three Pictish warriors on foot with swords, shields and spears, confront an Anglian horseman armed with a spear. This may show how the Picts actually fought in battle. The front rank wielded sword and shield, covered by the second rank with their spears lowered to protect the swordsmen and ward off mounted warriors. Behind that the third rank of the Pictish battle line would stand in reserve. Below are mounted Pictish and Anglian horsemen fighting. The Anglian horseman on the right has drawn back his horse’s head to steady him and is about to throw his spear. The Pictish warrior has his shield raised to ward off the blow, and is preparing to hurl his own spear. On the right is a dead Anglian warrior with a raven pecking at this body.
Cont....
Last edited:
