Monument record MHG54302 - Class I Pictish symbol stone, Cotterton (1 of 2)

A Class I Pictish stone is built into the wall of a byre at Cotterton. The stone depicts the Pictish beast, with crescent above, comb underneath and a mirror to the right which is partially obscured by harling. The crescent has unfortunately been truncated when the stone was reshaped for use as building material. <1><2>

It is suggested by Cait McCullagh, a local archaeologist and PhD Student at Edinburgh University, that the lack of weathering apparent on the stone is because it was previously located inside another building, or even buried. Cait also suggests that the stone may have been deliberately placed in this spot in the building, perhaps gifted for the purpose. That being the case the person who built the stone in would not be the person who originally dressed the stone, as one presumes someone who viewed the stone as significant would not have shaved off parts of the symbols. <3>