Dunnichen Stone facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Dunnichen Stone |
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The Dunnichen Stone
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| Material | Old Red Sandstone |
| Height | 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) |
| Symbols |
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| Created | Seventh Century CE |
| Discovered | 1811 |
| Place | near Dunnichen, Angus, Scotland |
| Present location | Meffan Institute, Forfar, Angus, Scotland |
| Coordinates | 56°38′39″N 2°53′21″W / 56.6441°N 2.8891°W |
| Classification | Type I |
| Culture | Picto-Scottish |
The Dunnichen Stone is a class I Pictish symbol stone that was discovered in 1811 at Dunnichen, Angus. It probably dates to the 7th century AD.
Contents
Location
The exact location at which the stone was found is unknown, but thought to be in a field in the East Mains of Dunnichen, on the SE slope of Dunnichen Hill, , overlooking Dunnichen Moss. It is currently on display at the Meffan Institute in Forfar .
History
Jervise relates that the stone was found in a field called the Chashel or Castle Park, and that the site later became a quarry. While this name is no longer extant, Headrick records that it was in East Mains of Dunnichen, and the location was later assigned in 1966 at a disused quarry on that farm.
The discovery was described by Headrick:
... a good many years ago, there was turned up with the plough a large flat stone, on which is cut a rude outline of an armed warrior's head and shoulders
Jervise, noting the inaccuracy of description, identifies this confidently with the extant Dunnichen Stone.
The stone was initially erected at the unidentified "Kirkton Church", either in Dunnichen or in Letham, then it was moved to the garden of Dunnichen House. It was relocated to St Vigeans Museum in 1967, then to Dundee Museum (now the McManus Galleries) in 1972. It is currently on long-term loan to the Meffan Institute in Forfar.
A replica stands at the Church in Dunnichen.
Description
The stone is of rough sandstone, 1.5 meters (4 foot 8 inches) high, 0.7 meters (2 foot 3 inches) wide and 0.3 meters (1 foot) thick. It is incised on one face with three symbols: a pictish flower; a double disc and Z-rod; and a mirror and comb. While the double disc and Z-rod and mirror and comb motifs are fairly common and exist together elsewhere (see for example the Aberlemno Serpent Stone, the Flower is relatively rare.
See also
In Spanish: Piedra de Dunnichen para niños
