Shandwick Stone
The Shandwick Stone or Clach a 'Charridh ( Gaelic) is a Pictish symbol stone from the early Middle Ages . It stands on a hill south of Shandwick on the Tarbat peninsula in the eastern part of Ross and is entered in the list of historic monuments in Scotland . Shandwick is the southernmost of three fishing villages that have now grown together and are now known as the Seaboard Villages .
history
Like the other Pictish symbol stones, the stone dates from the early Middle Ages. In 1846 the stone overturned and broke in two. He was later raised and put back together. Today it stands in a steel cage with glass walls to protect it from erosion.
Due to its size of around three meters and its elevated location close to the sea, the stone used to serve as a landmark for shipping. It stands in an area that used to be a cemetery. The Gaelic name Clach a 'Charridh , translated stone at the place of the graves , indicates this fact. An entry for 1889 shows that the last time 1832 people were buried there who had fallen victim to a cholera epidemic . The cemetery was cleared in 1885.
description
On the eastern side facing the lake, next to a Christian cross, which is decorated with circular decorations, several figures can be seen. Two of these can be interpreted as angels due to their wings, two more show animals that give the impression of a boar or a lion. A third similar with its long, curved neck, a dragon or a dragon . The other areas are decorated with ornaments. Due to weathering, parts of the images are no longer recognizable.
The opposite, western side is divided into seven fields, in which, in addition to a Pictish Beast and a hunting or fighting scene with a multitude of people and animals, various ornaments can also be seen. The side is crowned by one of the symbols often found on Pictish stones, which is usually referred to as a double disc . This upper area is also badly weathered.
Since the stone shows both Pictish symbols and a cross, it is classified as class II among the Pictish symbol stones. About three kilometers to the northeast, another Class II symbol stone, the Hilton of Cadboll Stone, was discovered that had been misused as a grave slab in the 17th century. A replica is on display there today. A third stone, the Nigg Stone , is located in the former church of the town of the same name, which has been converted into a museum, just a few kilometers southwest of Shandwick. Due to their spatial proximity and the similar design, all three stones are connected with regard to both their previously unknown purpose and their creator.
Web links
- Scheduled Monument - entry . In: Historic Scotland .
- Entry on Shandwick Stone in Canmore, Historic Environment Scotland database
- The Shandwick Stone Pictish symbol stones in the database of the University of Strathclyde (English)
- The Shandwick Stone in the list of historic monuments at the site of the Highland Council (English)
- The Shandwick Stone at the baile , the historical and cultural site of the Highland Council: East side , west side (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ The Pictish Trail ( Memento of the original from August 14, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. on the Highland Council website. Retrieved August 30, 2012. (English)
Coordinates: 57 ° 44 ′ 51 ″ N , 3 ° 55 ′ 29 ″ W.