Record

Sculptured stone

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found at Burghead, Moray

Postcard of Sculptured stone.
000-100-043-468-C
© National Museums Scotland

Sculptured stone

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: 0098: 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
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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