MHG14745 - Thief's Stone, Rosskeen
Summary
Clach a' Mheirlich, or the "Thief's Stone", a Class I symbol stone, located near Invergordon.
Type and Period (1)
- INSCRIBED STONE (Pictish to Early Medieval - 300 AD to 1057 AD)
Protected Status
Full Description
NH66NE 12 6810 6902.
Clach a' Mhearlich (NAT) OS 6" map, (1959)
Clach a' Mheirlich, or the "Thief's Stone" is a Class I (ie. Probably C7th -9th) symbol stone.
It is a sandstone pillar, 6ft x 1ft 6ins square, bearing on the front a 'step' symbol and on the left side what appears to be traces of a crescent symbol with, below, what could be either a pair of pincers or a 'tuning fork' symbol. Clach a' Mheirlich (ONB 1874).
Name Book 1874; J R Allen and J Anderson 1903. <1><2>
Clach a' Mheirlich is as described and illustrated by Allen (1903). Visited by OS (N K B) 23 March 1966.
Class I symbol stone. A step is carved on E face,with a crescent above a pair of pincers on S face
A.Mack 1997 p.118 <3>
Telephone call from D Scott. Possible additional symbols present - mirror and cauldron. <4>
Photographs received from D Scott. One shows the stone at night, where the crescent above a pair of pincers on the South face is readily apparent. <5>
Rosskeen, Ross and Cromarty, Pictish symbol stone
Measurements: H 1.83m, W 0.46m, D 0.46m
Stone type: sandstone
Place of discovery: NH 6810 6902
Present location: in situ in field.
Evidence for discovery: recognised as a symbol stone in the nineteenth century.
Present condition: weathered.
Description:
This is a substantial pillar stone with incised symbols on two adjacent faces: on one the step symbol and on the other there are traces of a crescent above a pair of pincers.
Date: seventh century.
References: ECMS pt 3, 61; Fraser 2008, no 127.
Medieval Carved Stones Project, A Ritchie 2017.
Sources/Archives (9)
- --- SHG23282 Interactive Resource/Online Database: Historic Environment Scotland. Canmore. 13617.
- --- SHG2357 Text/Publication/Volume: Jackson, A. 1984. The symbol stones of Scotland: a social anthropological resolution to the problem of the Picts.
- --- SHG2670 Text/Report: RCAHMS. 1979. The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. The archaeological sites and monuments of Easter Ross, Ross and Cromarty District, Highland Region. . 25, No. 212.
- --- SHG2712 Text/Publication/Volume: Ritchie, J N G. 1985. Pictish symbol stones: a handlist 1985. 13.
- <1> SHG3350 Text/Publication/Volume: Name Book (County). Object Name Books of the Ordnance Survey. Book No. 2, 91.
- <2> SHG1883 Text/Publication/Volume: Allen and Anderson, J R and J. 1903. The early Christian monuments of Scotland: a classified illustrated descriptive list of the monuments with an analysis of their symbolism and ornamentation. pt. 3, 61; illust.
- <3> SHG2456 Text/Publication/Volume: Mack, A. 1997. Field guide to the Pictish symbol stones. 118.
- <4> SHG24546 Verbal Communication: Scott, D. 2000-2010. Comments by Douglas Scott. Yes. 2002.
- <5> SHG25031 Image/Photograph(s): Scott, D. 2010-11. Photographs and information from Douglas Scott. Colour. Yes. Digital.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NH 6810 6903 (20m by 20m) (2 map features) |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NH66NE |
| Geographical Area | ROSS AND CROMARTY |
| Civil Parish | ROSSKEEN |
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Investigations/Events (0)
External Links (3)
- http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/SM1675 (Online designation description (Historic Environment Scotland))
- https://canmore.org.uk/site/13617 (View RCAHMS Canmore entry for this site)
- https://highlandpictishtrail.co.uk/project/the-thiefs-stone/ (Link to the Pictish trail website)
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