Kirriemuir Sculptured Stones

Kirriemuir 2 rear. Photograph by Kyle Munro

Coordinates: 56°38′39″N 2°53′21″W / 56.6441°N 2.8891°W / 56.6441; -2.8891 The Kirriemuir Sculptured Stones are a series of Class II and III Pictish stones found in Kirriemuir, Angus, Scotland. Their existence points to Kirriemuir being an important ecclesiastical centre in the late first millennium AD.

Location[]

The stones were found in the grounds of Kirriemuir Kirk grid reference

NO38955448. The stones are now on display at the Meffan Institute in Forfar, Angus.

Description[]

Kirriemuir 1[]

The slab is carved on both faces in relief and, as it bears Pictish symbols, it falls into John Romilly Allen and Joseph Anderson's classification system as a class II stone.^[1]^[2] The stone bears a number of figural representations and a mirror and comb symbol. The figures have been identified as Saints Anthony and Paul.^[3]

The stone is one of the latest to include pictish symbols and can be dated with confidence to the late 9th/early 10th century.^[4]

Kirriemuir 2[]

Cross slab carved on both faces in relief. It too contains Pictish symbols and falls into John Romilly Allen and Joseph Anderson's classification system as a class II stone.^[1]

History[]

References[]

^ ^a ^b Allen, J. Romilly; Anderson, J. (1903), Early Christian Monuments of Scotland, vol. 1, Balgavies, Angus: Pinkfoot Press (1993 facsimile), pp. 242–245
^ Allen, J. Romilly (1890), "Preliminary list of sculptured stones older than A.D. 1100, with symbols and Celtic ornament, in Scotland" (PDF), Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 24: 510–525, retrieved November 29, 2010
^ "Site record for Kirriemuir 1 stone", Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historic Monuments of Scotland. Canmore database., retrieved December 6, 2010
^ Laing, Lloyd R. (2000), "How late were Pictish symbols employed" (PDF), Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 130: 637–650, retrieved December 6, 2010

Gallery[]

Kirriemuir 1 front. Photograph by Kyle Munro.
Kirriemuir 1 rear. Photograph by Kyle Munro.
Kirriemuir 2 front. Photograph by Kyle Munro.
Kirriemuir 2 rear. Photograph by Kyle Munro.
Kirriemuir 3 front. Photograph by Kyle Munro.
Kirriemuir 3 rear. Photograph by Kyle Munro.

[ECMS-1] Allen, J. Romilly; Anderson, J. (1903), Early Christian Monuments of Scotland, vol. 1, Balgavies, Angus: Pinkfoot Press (1993 facsimile), pp. 242–245

[2] Allen, J. Romilly (1890), "Preliminary list of sculptured stones older than A.D. 1100, with symbols and Celtic ornament, in Scotland" (PDF), Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 24: 510–525, retrieved November 29, 2010

[3] "Site record for Kirriemuir 1 stone", Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historic Monuments of Scotland. Canmore database., retrieved December 6, 2010

[4] Laing, Lloyd R. (2000), "How late were Pictish symbols employed" (PDF), Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 130: 637–650, retrieved December 6, 2010

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v Pictish sculptured stones
Caithness	Ackergill Birkle HIll Crosskirk Latheron Sandside Skinnet Ulbster Watenan
Ross	Ardjachie Stone Dingwall Stone Edderton Cross Slab Clach Chairidh Gairloch Stone Hilton of Cadboll Stone Nigg Stone Poolewe Stone Portmahomack sculpture fragments Rosemarkie Stone Rosemarkie sculpture fragments Rosskeen Stone Shandwick Stone Strathpeffer Stone
Badenoch and Strathspey	Advie Stone Ballintomb Stone Congash Stones Dunachton Stone Findlarig Stone Grantown Stone Inverallan Stone Lynchurn Stone
Moray	Birnie Symbol Stone Burghead Bulls Burghead (fragment) stone Dandaleith stone Drainie Carved Stones Easterton of Roseisle stone Elgin Pillar Inveravon Church stones (4) Rodney's Stone Sculptor's Cave symbol wall carvings Sueno's Stone
Inverness	Balbair Stones Culaird Stone Dores Stone Drumbuie Stone Garbeg Stone Invereen Stone Kingsmills Stone Knocknagael Stone Lochardill Stone Torgorm Stone
Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire	Ardlair Stone Aquhollie Stone Brandsbutt Stone Broomend of Crichie stone Cairnton stone Dunnicaer stones Dyce stones Fordoun Stone Fyvie Stones Kintore stones Logie Elphinstone Stones Maiden Stone Migvie Stone Monymusk Stone Nether Corskie Stone Newbigging, Leslie Stone Newton Stone Picardy Stone Rhynie Stones Tillytarmont Stones
Angus	Aberlemno Sculptured Stones Balluderon Stone Camus Cross Drosten Stone Dunnichen Stone Eassie Stone Glamis Manse Stone Hunter's Hill Stone Kirriemuir Sculptured Stones Monifieth Sculptured Stones St Orland's Stone St Vigeans Sculptured Stones Strathmartine Castle Stone Woodwrae Stone
Perth and Kinross	Bullion Stone Dupplin Cross Meigle standing stones
Fife	Abdie stone Scoonie Stone
Orkney	Brough of Birsay Greens Knowe of Burrian
Shetland	Breck of Hillwell Cunningsburgh