Pictish Stones at Inveravon, Banff, Scotland
Introduction on the Inveravon Pictish Stones
This evening, I am posting information on the Inveravon Pictish Stones in Speyside, Scottish Highlands. Theses stones are located inside a church porch just south of Marypark, about half a mile off the A95.
Inveravon Parish Church
Information on the
As will be evident from the information provided on this web page, the Stones and church site are of some antiquity.
The Picts dominated Scotland before arrival of the Scots and were known as the ‘People of Designs’ or ‘Painted People’. Their culture lived on until around the 10th century leaving us with a considerable tangible legacy in the form of elaborate stone carvings. There are over 125 sites in Scotland where the stone carvings can be found or originated. Academics have divided the carvings in to three classes:
- Class 1, which are naturally occurring rocks or boulders containing groups of incised symbols and none of which carry Christian images which are recognisable today.
- Class 2, which are shaped and dressed and carry Christian symbols. These mainly comprise cross-slabs.
- Class 3, which are similar to Class 2 but carry no Class 1 symbols.
The carvings feature symbols which have been categorised into four groupings:
- Rods- v shape, z shape and straight.
- Objects-representations from everyday life which include items such as anvils, hammers, shears, mirrors and combs.
- Abstract Shapes- include arches, crescents, double crescents and discs.
- Animals-include boar, bull, goose, horse, strange beasts, salmon, snakes and stags.
Clearly, the Inveravon carvings provide a representative selection from all four categories.
Video clip of Inveravon Pictish Stones
More information on sites with Pictish carvings.
Here are links to other important Pictish carvings an Scotland:
Pictish Carved Stones at Meigle.
More information.
A section on the Picts can be found in the publication Visitors’ Guide to Scotland. The ISBN is 978-1-9161332-0-4. This is also available via Kindle.