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THE SCULPTURED STONES
OF CAITHNESS The aim of this survey was to produce an up-to-date and comprehensive list of The Pictish and early Christian sculptured stones which have been found in the modern county of Caithness, and to provide brief details about the stones which might be of interest to the general reader. More detailed notes may be found in the various sources listed for each stone under 'Other Documentation'; a guide to the abbreviations used is appended here. Those stones bearing Pictish symbols have been divided into two categories. Class 1 stones usually consist of incised symbols on an undressed slab or boulder, with no other carving evident. Class 2 stones also have a cross and often other iconography, carved in relief. Class 3 monuments bear no Pictish symbols, but typically show a cross in relief on one face and relief carvings of other kinds on the reverse. Other categories of monument in this survey include cross-incised slabs and boulders, and an unusual carved pillar. As regards the meaning and significance of the enigmatic Pictish symbols, it is not proposed here to add to the already considerable literature which exists on this topic. Most of the various theories which have been advanced appear to have some merit, but involve a good deal of speculation. It is interesting to note, however, that the recent discoveries of symbol stones associated with contemporary burials in the north of Scotland has added weight to the argument that these stones were erected as grave markers or memorials. A Class 1 stone bearing a 'mirror-and-comb' symbol was found in 1977 at the Dairy Park, Dunrobin in eastern Sutherland, on the grave of a woman; the remains were dated to the Pictish period (see PSAS cx pp328-45). Distribution Map |
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SSC5 |
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No Picture |
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Possibly identical with SSC1 |
In the same garden wall at Latheron where is situated Reference Number SSC/17 |
A stone mentioned |
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OTHER DOCUMENTATION: abbreviations
BEAT: Rev. D. Beaton, "The Early Christian Monuments of Caithness" (1913). CCS: C. Batey, "Caithness Coastal Survey", Durham University Occasional Paper, (1980/2). ECMS : Allen and Anderson, "The Early Christian Monuments of Scotland", (1903) FAIR . H. Fairhurst, "Excavations at Crosskirk Broch", (1984). HRC Leaflet: Highland Regional Council, Archaeology "The Watenan Stone", (1978). IMCC: A. 0. Curle, "Inventory of Monuments in the County of Caithness", (1911). MGC: "Macfarlane's Geographical Collections", (1906-08). OS 1873: Ordnance Survey Object Name Book for 1873 PSAS : Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. SINC : T. Sinclair. "The Gunns", (1890). SSS: J. Stuart, "The Sculptured Stones of Scotland" (1856). |
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