Sculptured stone

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This sculptured stone is said to have been found long ago in the well at Burghead in Moray. It is one of a number of stones with bull symbols found in and around the site of the Pictish fortress at Burghead. They were carved between 500 and 800.

The bull is naturalistically depicted with decorative scrolls defining the joints where the limbs meet the body. These scrolls are similar to those found in a Northumbrian Gospel-book, known as Echternach Gospels, of around AD 700.

The large fort at Burghead was a major Pictish settlement. A number of carvings have been found there, many depicting bulls. Various theories have been put forward to explain their significance, including religious, territorial emblems or clan totems.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-043-468-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.IB 95
• Date: 7th or 8th century
  Between 500 and 800
  
• Material: Sandstone; rough; unhewn; figure of bull incised on face
  Burghead Bull
  Symbol stone
  
• Dimensions: 1000 mm H x 130 mm L x 450 mm W
  
• What: Burghead Bull
  Symbol stone
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Moray, Burghead
  
• Event:
• Description: Symbol stone of rough sandstone with the incised figure of a bull, from Burghead, Moray, 7th or 8th century
  
• References:
  • Close-Brooks, J. & Stevenson, R.B.K. Dark Age Sculpture. Edinburgh: HMSO, 1982 
• Translations:
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