Symbol stone from the Knowe of Burrian
The Pictish symbol stone of the Knowe of Burrian , found in Harray on the Orkney island of Mainland , is now in the Orkney Museum in Kirkwall .
The symbol stone was found in 1936 during amateur excavations at the entrance of a well in a ruined brochure . The Class I stone, broken in two and put back together again, dates from the 7th century.
description
The 1.1 m high, 0.54 m wide and 0.1 m thick slab is made of sandstone . Three pictorial symbols are carved into one broad side: at the top an eagle over a decorated crescent moon and a V-rod and at the bottom a mirror with a double ball handle.
classification
In "The Early Christian Monuments of Scotland" (1903) John Romilly Allen (1847-1907) and Joseph Anderson (1832-1916) classified the stones in three classes. Critics have noted weaknesses in the system, but it continues to be used. Class 1 are unworked stones with incised symbols. There are no cross representations. The stones date from the 6th to 8th centuries.
About 350 symbol stones are currently known, but new ones are always being discovered. Pictish symbol stones are generally found in the north east of Scotland. Eleven symbol stones, mostly fragments, were found on Orkney.
See also
Web links
- Entry on Symbolstein from Knowe of Burrian in Canmore, Historic Environment Scotland database
- Description and picture
Coordinates: 59 ° 1 ′ 57.4 " N , 3 ° 12 ′ 25.2" W.