MHG45274 - Cist w Symbol Stone, Golspie High School
Summary
No summary available.
Type and Period (1)
- INSCRIBED STONE (Pictish - 300 AD to 900 AD)
Protected Status
- None recorded
Full Description
NC80SW 9 8338 0018.
(NC 8338 0018) Short Cist with Symbol Stone found AD 1942 (NAT) OS 6" map, (1969)
A small cist, capped by Class I symbol stone, was found by John P Morrison during ploughing in April 1942. The cist, roughly paved and lightly built, lay E-W, measured 3ft by 13ins by 14ins deep and was set in sand. The symbol slab has been neatly trimmed with square-cut top-corners. It is of micaceous sandstone and measures 3ft 9.5ins to 4ft 3.5ins in length by about 24ins wide by 2 3/8ins thick. The incised symbols, on one face only, consisist of crescent and V-rod, 'elephant' mirror and comb. The fact that it lay across and was twice the size of cist suggested that it was not the original capstone. It is now mounted and on display in Dunrobin Museum. J M Davidson 1943.
The find-spot of the cist is now occupied by Golspie High School. The symbol stone is still in Dunrobin Museum.
Site Surveyed at 1:2500. Visited by OS (R B) 19 February 1966.
Acc. No: 1942.1 Metric measurements - 1.30m x 0.6m x 0.05m.
Information from TS of Catalogue of Dunrobin Museum, by A S Henshall
Class I symbol stone bearing a crescent and V-rod,an elephant and a mirror-and -comb.
A.Mack 1997 p.125
Golspie 2, Sutherland, Pictish symbol stone
Measurements: H 1.30m, W 0.60m, D 0.05m
Stone type: sandstone
Place of discovery: NC 8338 0018
Present location: Dunrobin Museum (ARC 541), Dunrobin Castle.
Evidence for discovery: uncovered by ploughing in 1942, the slab had been re-used as the cover of a short cist.
Present condition: good.
Description:
This slab has a rough surface but nonetheless the carver was able to incise lightly the assured lines of four symbols. An ornate crescent and V-rod is carved above a Pictish beast, and in front of and below the head of the beast are a mirror and a single-sided comb.
Date: seventh century.
References: Davidson 1943; Fraser 2008, no 141.
Compiled by A Ritchie 2016, Early Medieval Carved Stones Project
The symbol stone was catalogued during an inventory of Dunrobin Castle Museum's collection in 2019 by ARCH. Listed under Acc. No. 1942.1. It was on display on the lower floor. See attached photo taken by C. Ferne. <1>
Sources/Archives (6)
- --- SHG22642 Text/Publication/Volume: Close - Brooks, J.. 1989. Pictish Stones in DunRobin Castle Museum 1989. Close - Brooks, J. Pilgrim Press Ltd.. Paper (Original). pp. 14.
- --- SHG2456 Text/Publication/Volume: Mack, A. 1997. Field guide to the Pictish symbol stones. 125.
- --- SHG2712 Text/Publication/Volume: Ritchie, J N G. 1985. Pictish symbol stones: a handlist 1985. 14.
- --- SHG57 Text/Publication/Article: Davidson, J M. 1943. 'A Pictish symbol stone from Golspie, Sutherland', Proc Soc Antiq Scot, Vol 77 (1942-43), pp 26-30.
- --- SHG750 Text/Publication/Article: Close-Brooks, J.. 1981. Excavations in the Dairy Park, Dunrobin, Sutherland, 1977. Proc Soc Antiq Scot Vol. 110. 328-45. 334.
- <1> SHG28514 Collection/Finds Collection: Archaeology for Communities in the Highlands (ARCH). 2019. Finds Collection At Dunrobin Castle Museum. 1942.1.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NC 8337 0018 (6m by 6m) (2 map features) |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NC80SW |
| Geographical Area | SUTHERLAND |
| Civil Parish | GOLSPIE |
Finds (1)
- SYMBOL STONE (Pictish - 300 AD to 900 AD)
Related Monuments/Buildings (1)
Related Investigations/Events (0)
External Links (1)
- https://canmore.org.uk/site/6594 (View RCAHMS Canmore entry for this site)
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