Find Spot record MHG39732 - Findspot of symbol stone, Dairy Park, Golspie
Summary
No summary available.
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NC 8469 0039 (6m by 6m) (Buffered by site type) |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NC80SW |
| Geographical Area | SUTHERLAND |
| Old County | SUTHERLAND |
| Civil Parish | GOLSPIE |
Map
Type and Period (1)
Full Description
(NC 8470 0039) A symbol stone was found during ploughing in the Dairy Park on 23rd February 1977 by Messrs David Low and Graham Park. Subsequent excavation by Dr Close-Brooks established that the stone overlay a low, rectangular cairn, covering a long-cisted extended inhumation of an adult female, lying ENE-WSW and unaccompanied by grave-goods.
The cist, unpaved, was set in a pit dug into the gravel subsoil, and measured about 2.3m long by 1.0m wide by 0.6m deep. It was composed of sandstone slabs and there is some question as to how it was covered as none of the capstones were of any great size and they had partially collapsed into the grave. The cist had been completely covered by a layer of clean, yellow sand lying on the natural gravel and overlaid in turn by a thin covering of pebbles, bounded by a kerb of laid boulders on the N and W, and presumably originally also on the S and E, though no trace survived on these sides. The cairn is estimated to have measured about 9.5m by 7m by 0.5m to 0.6m high. There was no trace of a ditch. Carbon-14 dating of the skeletal material gave 660 +/- 50 AD and 625 +/- 50 AD (uncalibrated), dates consistent with that of the Class I symbol stone which may have at one time marked the site.
It is an unworked slab of sea-smoothed, pink sandstone, 1.2m long, 1.5m wide and 0.15m thick, with the incised symbols on one face only. They consist of a double crescent, a serpent and Z-rod and a comb and mirror. The stone, which is presumed to have stood erect over the cairn although no socket was identified, is now in Dunrobin Castle Museum.
Ackergill (ND35SW 12) offers the closest parallel for the cairn and long cist, while other instances occur of the association of symbol stones and burial cairns. Two other Class I symbol stones associated with cists have been found near Dairy Park (ND80SW 9 and 24), but in each case the use of the symbol stone was secondary.
J Close-Brooks 1977; 1981. <1><2>
Class I symbol stone - Dunrobin 2 - showing a double crescent over a serpent and Z-rod and a mirror-and-comb
A.Mack 1997 p.125 <3>
A photograph of the Dunrobin 2 symbol stone, on display in Dunrobin Museum, was submitted to the HER by a participant in a Community Timeline course, run by ARCH. <4>
Sources/Archives (7)
- --- SHG1103 Text/Publication/Article: Webster and Cherry, L E and J. 1978. 'Medieval Britain in 1977', Medieval Archaeol Vol. 22 1978, p.142-88. Medieval Archaeol. 142-88. 151, 152.
- --- SHG2053 Text/Publication/Volume: Close-Brooks, J. 1986. Exploring Scotland's Heritage: The Highlands. 130-1, No. 67.
- --- SHG2712 Text/Publication/Volume: Ritchie, J N G. 1985. Pictish symbol stones: a handlist 1985. 13.
- <1> SHG875 Text/Publication/Article: Close-Brooks, J. 1977. 'Golspie, Dunrobin, Dairy Park, pictish symbol stone, and long cist in cairn; corn drying kiln', Discovery and Excavation in Scotland 1977, p.37. Discovery and Excavation in Scotland. 37. 37, pictish symbol stone, and long cist in cairn.
- <2> SHG750 Text/Publication/Article: Close-Brooks, J. 1981. 'Excavations in the Dairy Park, Dunrobin, Sutherland, 1977', Proc Soc Antiq Scot Vol. 110 1978-80, p.328-45. Proc Soc Antiq Scot. 328-45. 328-45.
- <3> SHG2456 Text/Publication/Volume: Mack, A. 1997. Field guide to the Pictish symbol stones. 125.
- <4> SHG24858 Image/Photograph(s): Private individuals. 2010. Photographs submitted by participants in ARCH Community Timeline course in Evanton and Golspie. Colour digital. Yes. Digital. Shirley Sutherland.
Finds (1)
Protected Status/Designation
- None recorded
Related Monuments/Buildings (1)
Related Events/Activities (0)
Record last edited
Nov 4 2010 10:51AM
