MHG7733 - Findspot of symbol stone, Gairloch
Summary
No summary available.
Type and Period (2)
- FINDSPOT (Early Medieval - 561 AD to 1057 AD)
- INSCRIBED STONE (Pictish to Early Medieval - 300 AD to 1057 AD)
Protected Status
- None recorded
Full Description
Mr Bannerman (G Bannerman, District Surveyor, Gairloch, Wester Ross) reports that human bones and a Pictish symbol stone of Torridon sandstone were found about 1880 in 'The field of the cairn - Achtercairn, 'an almost flat arable field centred at NG 799 772. The symbol stone measures 36" by 20-24" by 5" and served as the step of an outhouse at Flowerdale House, until recently when it was placed in the Parish Church.
R B K Stevenson 1954.
In 1964 Rev. D Macdonald had symbol stone, which is incised with a fish and part of a goose, built into south wall of the new cemetery at NG 8075 7565.
Surveyed at 1/2500. Visited by OS (R D) 30 March 1965.
Now in Gairloch Museum.
Info contained in letter from A Jackson 11 November 1985.
Class I symbol stone bearing an eagle over a salmon.
A.Mack 1997 p.116
Gairloch, Ross and Cromarty, Pictish symbol stone
Measurements: H 0.97m, W 0.71m, D 0.12m
Stone type: Torridonian sandstone
Place of discovery: NG c 8019 7707
Present location: Gairloch Heritage Museum.
Evidence for discovery: it is said to have been found around 1880 at Auchtercairn north of Gairloch in a field in which a number of long cists were found and in which a large cairn once stood. It served as a sill stone in the doorway of an outhouse at Flowerdale House (NG87NW 34), until sometime in the first half of the twentieth century when it was placed in the parish church. In 1964 it was built into the south wall of the new cemetery, and in 1977 it was removed and taken to Gairloch Museum.
Present condition: very worn and broken at the top (and probably the base).
Description:
One broad face of this very irregular slab is deeply incised with the lower part of an eagle above a salmon, both facing left.
Date: seventh century.
References: Stevenson 1954, 110-11; Fraser 2008, no 122.
Early Medieval Carved Stones Project, Compiled by A Ritchie 2017
The stone is within Gairloch Museum. <1>
Sources/Archives (9)
- --- SHG1083 Text/Publication/Article: Stevenson, R B K. 1954. 'Long cist burials, particularly those at Galson (Lewis) and Garioch (Wester Ross), with a symbol stone at Garioch', Proc Soc Antiq Scot Vol. 86 1951-2, p.106-14. Proc Soc Antiq Scot. 106-14. 110-11; pl. xxi.
- --- SHG1685 Text/Publication/Article: Thomas, C. 1963. 'The interpretation of the Pictish symbols', Archaeol J Vol. 120 1963, p.31-97. Archaeol J. 31-97. 94.
- --- SHG22748 Text/Publication/Volume: Fisher, I.. 2001. Early Medieval Sculpture in the West Highlands and Islands. Paper (Original). pp. 91.
- --- SHG23282 Interactive Resource/Online Database: Historic Environment Scotland. Canmore. 11962.
- --- SHG2357 Text/Publication/Volume: Jackson, A. 1984. The symbol stones of Scotland: a social anthropological resolution to the problem of the Picts.
- --- SHG2456 Text/Publication/Volume: Mack, A. 1997. Field guide to the Pictish symbol stones. 116.
- --- SHG25450 Collection/Project Archive: Archaeology for Communities in the Highlands (ARCH). 08/2011. Digital site gazetteer and archive for ARCH Community Timeline Project: Gairloch. Yes. Site 12.
- --- SHG2712 Text/Publication/Volume: Ritchie, J N G. 1985. Pictish symbol stones: a handlist 1985. 12.
- <1> SHG28500 Text/Record Form/Project Recording Form: Archaeology for Communities in the Highlands (ARCH). 2019. Finds Collection at Gairloch Museum.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NG 8075 7565 (6m by 6m) (2 map features) |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NG87NW |
| Geographical Area | ROSS AND CROMARTY |
| Civil Parish | GAIRLOCH |
Finds (1)
- SYMBOL STONE (Pictish - 300 AD to 900 AD)
Related Monuments/Buildings (1)
Related Investigations/Events (0)
External Links (2)
- https://canmore.org.uk/site/11962 (View RCAHMS Canmore entry for this site)
- https://highlandpictishtrail.co.uk/project/gairloch-museum/ (Link to the Pictish trail website)
Comments and Feedback
Do you have any more information about this record? Please feel free to comment with information and photographs, or ask any questions, using the "Disqus" tool below. Comments are moderated, and we aim to respond/publish as soon as possible.