Pictish Symbol Stones

Aberdeenshire formed one of the heartlands of the northern Picts between the fourth and ninth centuries AD.

View the site locations

The Picts are known chiefly for their elaborately but regularly decorated memorial stones found in profusion throughout eastern Scotland from Shetland to the Firth of Forth. However, much more is actually known about them than that.

Society

Militaristic and aristocratic, their society had several grades, including cavalry and footmen, a peasantry, part of whom was bonded to the land, all ruled by tribal chiefs and kings. The origins of this society lie in the Celtic Iron Age of the area.

Symbol Stones

The symbol stones are decorated in a structured way with a series of animal and object symbols current in late Roman Iron Age times (third/fourth centuries AD) - mirrors, combs, cauldrons, geese, hounds, etc.

5th - 7th Century

They were erected from perhaps as early as the fifth century AD but were chiefly in use in the sixth and seventh centuries. The early series consist of untreated boulders with the decoration incised on the surface. (Picardy Stone; Kintore Kirkyard; Crichie; Brandsbutt).

7th - 8th Century

In the seventh or eighth centuries, simple cross-incised stones which were most likely grave-markers, indicate the arrival of Chrisitianity in Aberdeenshire (eg Tullich). A later series of symbol stones, dating from the eighth centuries, are more finished, being carved in relief on treated slabs, with, on one face, a cross, perhaps for use as part of a preaching site (eg Maiden Stone; Migvie).

9th Century

There is also a series of later (ninth century) monuments, without symbols, in which the cross is the sole decoration (Kinord).

Inscriptions

A few of the Pictish stones have inscriptions in ogham, an alphabet of combinations of short strokes invented in Ireland before the 4th cetury AD. The stones with early oghams (i.e. using the angle of a stone as the base line) are not accompamied by symbols (eg Newton House), but the later examples are accompanied by symbols (eg Brandsbutt Stone).

Locations

View all the locations in Aberdeenshire with Pictish Symbols from the list below:

Fordoun Stone

Auchenblae, 5 miles N of Laurencekirk. A Pictish cross-slab. Fordoun Stone details

Kintore Kirkyard

In centre of Kintore. Stone stands inside gate of kirkyard, with symbols on two faces. View Kintore Kirkyard

Kinord Cross

6 miles W of Aboyne. Kite-shaped slab with excellently preserved interlace-filled cross carved in relief. Read about Kinord Cross

Raven Stone, Tyrie

5 miles SW of Fraserburgh. Blue mica stone incised with an eagle above a notched rectangle and Z-rod. Raven Stone details

Fyvie Church

SE corner of Fyvie. 4 stones set in gable of church. Fyvie Church details

Maiden Stone

5 miles NW of Inverurie. One of the few Class II Pictish monuments in the north east of Scotland. Maiden Stone details

 

 

Inverurie Kirkyard

Inverurie. Four early Pictish stones. Read about Inverurie Kirkyard

Newton Stones

10 miles NW of Inverurie. 2 stones with symbols and script. Newton Stone details

Rhynie Old Kirkyard

8 miles S of Huntly. 3 stones with symbols. Read about Rhynie Old Kirkyard

Brandsbutt Stone

Inverurie. Restored stone with symbols and inscription. Brandsbutt Stone details

Picardy Stone

12 miles NW of Inverurie. Stone incised with the double disc and Z-rod, serpent and Z-rod and mirror symbols. Read about Picardy Stone

St.Peter's Church, Inveravon

6½ miles SW of Aberlour. Four early Pictish symbol stones. St Peter's Church details

Rodney's Stone, Brodie

3 miles W of Forres. The stone was found in 1781 when digging the foundations of Dyke Church. Bears cross and Pictish symbols. Rodney's Stone details

Sueno's Stone

Near Forres. One of the most magnificent pieces of Early Historic sculpture in Britain, standing 6 m high, and dating to the ninth century AD. Suenos' Stone

Mortlach Kirk, Dufftown

In the Square in Dufftown. Two stones within kirkyard. Mortlach Kirk details

Tullich Kirkyard

2 miles E of Ballater. A stone incised with the double disc and Z-rod, beast and mirror symbols. Tullich Kirkyard details