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MHG45064 - Symbol Stones - Drumbuie

Summary

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Type and Period (1)

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Full Description

Two symbol stones were found in a cairn on the farm of Drumbuie (NH 5130-5131) about 1869.
One stone is a rough-surfaced weatherworn slab of irregular shape, its greatest length being 2' 6" and its greatest breadth being 2' 6". It bears the spectacle symbol and Z rod with intertwined serpent.
The second stone, evidently a fragment, is 3' 8" in greatest length and 2' 10" in greatest breadth. Its surface is rough and weatherworn. It bears two mirror symbols, the tail of a fish and the gridiron symbol.
W MacKay 1886

These stones were discovered in 1864 while ploughing round the site of an old grain-kiln on Drumbuie farm. They formed the covering of a cist-like structure containing earth and sand mixed with ashes and charcoal, but no human remains. (They were acquired by the NMAS. in 1955 (Acc.Nos. IB 287 & 288).)
J R Allen and J Anderson 1903, PSAS 1935

No further information.
Visited by OS (R L) 9 Feburary 1969

No. 1. This stone, set into a stone slab, is of irregular shape measuring 0.72m high and 0.7m wide. It appears to have been broken from a larger slab and is partially cracked and flaking. At the top is an incised carving of a serpent and Z-rod with scroll-ends, and below is a plain double disc symbol. The stone is in the Royal Museum of Scotland (RMS, formerly the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland [NMAS]) (Accession no. IB 287).
No. 2 This stone of sandstone, measuring 0.98m high, 0.81m wide and 0.05m thick, is now broken into three fragments. Part of the carving is missing but there remains an incised mirror symbol of which the handle had partially flaked away, and a comb. On the left side is a circular disc and rectangle the centre of which is fitted with more circles. Above the latter is part of a fish the head of which has been broken off. The stone is in the Royal Museum of Scotland (RMS, formerly the National Museum of Antiquites of Scotland [NMAS]) (Accession no. IB 288).
Information from R Jones to OS 1980

Two Class I symbol stones.
Drumbuie 1 : Serpent and Z-Rod above a Double Disc.
Drumbuie 2 : Salmon above a Mirror case,to the left of a Mirror and Comb .
A.Mack 1997 p.31

Drumbuie 1, Inverness-shire, Pictish symbol stone fragment
Measurements: H 0.76m, W 0.76m, D 0.06m
Stone type: brown sandstone
Place of discovery: NH c 517 302
Present location: National Museums Scotland (X.IB 287)
Evidence for discovery: found during ploughing in the 1860s around the site of an old grain kiln, along with Drumbuie 2. Both were covering a cist-like structure built of upright stones, which is likely to have been an earlier corn-drying kiln. They were taken to Balmacaan House until they were acquired by NMAS in 1955 and taken to Edinburgh.
Present condition: the edges of the slab are broken and irregular, but the carving is in reasonable condition, apart from damage by flaking to the left-hand disc.
Description:
Incised on this slab are a plain serpent and Z-rod symbol above a double disc symbol.
Date: seventh century.
References: ECMS pt 3, 99-100.
Compiled by A Ritchie 2017, Early Medieval Carved Stones Project

Drumbuie 2, Inverness-shire, Pictish symbol stone fragments
Measurements: H 1.12m, W 0.86m, D 0.06m
Stone type: sandstone
Place of discovery: NH c 517 302
Present location: National Museums Scotland (X.IB 288)
Evidence for discovery: found during ploughing in the 1860s around the site of an old grain kiln, along with Drumbuie 2. Both were covering a cist-like structure built of upright stones, which is likely to have been an earlier corn-drying kiln. They were taken to Balmacaan House until they were acquired by NMAS in 1955 and taken to Edinburgh.
Present condition: the slab has been broken into three pieces and cemented together, and the outer edges are broken and irregular, and much of the carving is very worn.
Description
Incised on these fragments are part of a salmon with detailed tail and scales, above a decorated disc and rectangle (or ‘mirror-case’), with a plain mirror and double-sided comb to its right.
Date: seventh century.
References: ECMS pt 3, 99-100.
Compiled by A Ritchie 2017, Early Medieval Carved Stones Project

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Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NH 5100 3000 (6m by 6m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NH53SW
Civil Parish	URQUHART AND GLENMORISTON
Geographical Area	INVERNESS

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