Pebble, an oxbone and a stone disc

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This pebble and ox bone from the Broch of Burrian on North Ronaldsay in Orkney and stone disc from Jarlshof in Shetland were all decorated with Pictish symbols. The objects date from between 500 and 800.

The long stone is incised on one side with a pentacle (a five-pointed star) and other markings. The bone is incised with a crescent and V- rod on one side and a rectangle on the other. The disc is incised with a double-disc and Z-rod symbol.

Monumental stones and some portable objects were decorated by the Picts with a range of unusual symbols, some of everyday objects and others more abstract. Many theories have been proposed to explain their meaning which nevertheless remain obscure.

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• Online ID: 000-100-038-138-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.HSA 4042
• Date: Between 500 and 800
  
• Material: Bone, ox; incised on one side with a crescent and V rod and on the other with a circular disc and rectangle with square indentations
  Sandstone; abraded both ends; incised on one side with a hexagram and on the other with a pentacle and various subsidiary markings
  Sandstone; thick; on one face incised Pictish symbol of 'spectacles' crossed by rod
  Disc
  Pebble
  Phalanx, ox / playing piece
  
• Dimensions: 2.20" L
  2.30" D
  5.90" L
  
• What: Disc
  Pebble
  Phalanx, ox / playing piece
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Orkney, North Ronaldsay, Burrian
  Scotland, Orkney, North Ronaldsay, Burrian
  Scotland, Shetland, Sumburgh, Jarlshof
  
• Event:
• Description: Pictish sandstone pebble incised on one side with a hexagram and on the other with a pentacle and various subsidiary markings, from Burrian
  Ox phalanx with incised Pictish symbols, possibly a playing piece or king piece, from Burrian
  Thick sandstone disc with an incised Pictish symbol of 'spectacles' crossed by a rod on one face, from Jarlshof
  
• References:
  • MacGregor, Arthur. The Broch of Burrian, North Ronaldsay, Orkney. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 105 (1972-4), pp 63-118, esp. pp 88, 95-6, 111, 113. 
• Translations:
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