MHG43673 - Symbol Stone - Groats Loch
Summary
No summary available.
Type and Period (1)
- INSCRIBED STONE (Pictish - 300 AD to 900 AD)
Protected Status
- None recorded
Full Description
A Class I Pictish symbol stone has been found at approx ND 3118 4075 by Mr D S Sutherland, 7 Castle Gardens, Dingwall. The stone is sculptured with part of a crescent and V-rod symbol. It is hoped that it will be moved to Thurso Museum after investigation.
Info contained in letter and plan from Dr J Close-Brooks, NMAS to OS, 6 December 1978.
Fragments of a Class I symbol stone were found 1978. Subsequent fieldwork revealed that largest fragment lay beside a low, round cairn and a small fragment lay on top of it. The cairn measured 3x3.3 m over a neat horizontally-laid kerb. In size it was similar to round mounds at Garbeg (NH53SW 15) and Lundin Links (NO 4003); in its method of construction to those at Ackergill (ND35SW12) and Keiss (ND06SW5). The surrounding ground was covered by a skin of peat 0.2-0.3m thick, and no cists or other cairns were visible. Likely that no other cairns are present.
P Ashmore 1981.
Class I symbol stone bearing part of a crescent and V-rod.
A.Mack 1997 p.128
GIS spatial data amended in 2017 according to position of cairn as seen on 2009 APs. <1>
Watenan, Groat's Loch, Caithness, Pictish symbol stone
Measurements: H0.98m, W 0.98m, D 0.52m-0.61m
Stone type: flagstone
Place of discovery: ND 3117 40763
Present location: Caithness Horizons, Thurso.
Evidence for discovery: the stone was found in two pieces in 1977 in close proximity to a platform cairn of Pictish type. The larger fragment lay beside the cairn and the smaller fragment lay on top of it.
Present condition: broken and incomplete, but the carving is in good condition.
Description:
These two fragments form the lower portion of a symbol stone bearing the lower part of a carefully incised crescent and V-rod symbol. The interior of the crescent has been decorated, probably with a pelta design.
Date range: seventh to eighth century.
References: Ashmore 1981; Gourlay 1984; Blackie & Macaulay 1998: no 6; Fraser 2008: no 105.
Compiled by A Ritchie, Early Medieval Carved Stones Project, 2016
This stone is listed in the Caithness Horizons catalogue under Acc. No. ARC1000a-b. <2>
Sources/Archives (18)
- --- SHG1086 Text/Publication/Article: Ashmore, P. J.. 1981. Low cairns, long cists and symbol stones (PSAS Vol. 110). Proc Soc Antiq Scot Vol 110 1978-80. 346-55. 350, 352.
- --- SHG2456 Text/Publication/Volume: Mack, A. 1997. Field guide to the Pictish symbol stones. 128.
- --- SHG2712 Text/Publication/Volume: Ritchie, J N G. 1985. Pictish symbol stones: a handlist 1985. 11.
- --- SHG28232 Text/Publication/Article: Hunter, F. 2013. Wick, Stain, Metal detector find, Discovery Excav Scot, New, vol. 14. Discovery and Excavation in Scotland. 121. Online. 9065.
- --- SHG3153 Text/Publication/Article: Close-Brooks, J. 1984. Pictish and other burials', Brit Archaeol Rep Vol. 125. SHG23462. 87-114. 99.
- --- SHG3154 Text/Publication/Article: Gourlay, R. 1984. A symbol stone and cairn at Watenan, Caithness, Brit Archaeol Rep Vol. 125. SHG23462. 131-4. 131-4.
- --- SHG3661 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG3662 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG3663 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG3664 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG3665 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG3666 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG3667 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG3668 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG3669 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG3670 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- <1> SHG27382 Image/Photograph(s)/Aerial Photograph/Vertical: Get Mapping. 2009. Getmapping aerial photography 2009.
- <2> SHG28495 Collection/Catalogue: Caithness Horizon. Various. Finds Collection at Caithness Horizons. CAIMS:ARC1000a-b.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred ND 3117 4076 (6m by 6m) (2 map features) |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | ND34SW |
| Civil Parish | WICK |
| Geographical Area | CAITHNESS |
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/9065 (View RCAHMS Canmore entry for this site)
- https://highlandpictishtrail.co.uk/project/north-coast-visitor-centre/ (Link to the Pictish trail website)
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