Tombs of Rhynie
The Pict tombs at Rhynie in Aberdeenshire , Scotland , discovered during an archaeological dig in 2013 may have revealed members of the Pictish ranks. The discovery of a carefully constructed sandstone grave containing human remains (pelvis, leg and jawbones) is one of the first in north-east Scotland. Human remains from this period are extremely rare in north east Scotland as the soil here is acidic. The sandstone slabs and the broken capstone of a stone box helped to preserve the skeletal material.
The Pict Kingdom was one of the most powerful in post-Roman Britain , but its social and political structures are largely unknown due to the lack of historical records. Contrary to the tradition in the Anglo-Saxon areas of the south, Scotland was largely buried without gifts.
Rhynie is known for its eight Pict Stones , including the Craw Stane . The new excavations have revealed rare specimens of Mediterranean imports and complex metalwork that support the theory that the area was a Pictish center of power. Shards of imported glass from western France have also been found near the Rhynie tombs.
The Pictish core countries and their power base were long suspected to be in the center of Scotland. Recent research has located Fortriu, the most frequently mentioned Pict Empire, near the Moray Firth . The finds and evidence of metalworking suggest that Rhynie held a leadership role in the 5th and 6th centuries, immediately after the Roman troops withdrew from Britain.
See also
Web links
- Report and picture
- Images, History Fund (Engl.)
- Excavations at Rhynie 2014 (Engl.)
Coordinates: 57 ° 19 ′ 29.4 " N , 2 ° 50 ′ 11.9" W.