Burrian
Stone
Orkney
112cm. high
An eagle,
crescent and v rod and mirror
without comb |
The Picts were an enigmatic and
mysterious nation first documented as living in Scotland by the Romans in the
first centuary A.D. They were described as a painted (tattooed) people, short,
stocky and dark haired.
Clava cairns near Inverness--Chambered neolithic
cairn.
They are thought to have spoken a
non-indo european language a few words of which come down to use in place names
today ie. PITmedden; pit meaning a farm or settlement.
They were fierce fighters but
their era came to an end with the kingship of Malcolm Canmore, who was the
first king to unify Scotland. |
Found 1992 by a grave digger. Dog-headed man. The Mail
Stone Shetland Museum
|
 |
 They are
famous for their stone sculpture which is
 acclaimed as the best in Europe of that time, and
is still interesting and beautiful today.
However, much of the work is
difficult to interpret and the meaning of the symbols used is lost. One, the
mirror and comb, is associated with women.
There is some indication from
the Venerable Bede that succession of the Pictish Kingship was through the
female line ie. matrilinear succession.
Its not known how this succession
proceeded, but the Pictish King Lists shows that a brother could inherit from
his brother, but a son never did, except, the very last Pictish king.
|
Still in situ.Known as Clach
Biorach in gaelic "the sharp stone"
The
Edderton Stone.
Ross and Cromarty. |
| Perhaps this is significant in their demise. In his small book
"The Pictish Trail" Anthony Jackson (The Orkney Press ISBN 0-907618-18-9)
£3.95 gives lots of information on the Picts, their symbols, and stones
to visit. |
|
 Hilton of
Cadbol.
We found these dark age skull bones on a casual day trip to the
Hilton of Cadbol site near Nigg. We didn't expect much as the fantastic Pictish
stone has been removed to Edinburgh Museum. However rabbits and sheep both
infest this beach dune site, and had dug up and damaged these remains.
This
find is now at Inverness Museum. When visiting ancient sites its always worth
having a real good look around. You will gain more from your visit, learn more,
look like an expert and might even find something interesting.
|
The Strathpeffer Eagle
Stone.
There is a prophecy attached to this pictish symbol stone. Its said
that if the stone falls down three times then the sea will rise and flood
Strathpeffer to such an extent that ships will be able to anchor themselves to
the church steeple.
The stone has already fallen over twice so it has been
concreted at the base (this can be seen in the photo)
Some say that a ship
already moored to the church steeple when an airship did so during their
hayday. |
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