Investigating
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St Vigeans Museum, home to one of the most INVESTIGATING important collections of Pictish sculptured stones in ST VIGEANS MUSEUM Scotland, offers a fantastic opportunity to explore OF CARVED STONES the lives of Scotland’s early people. Information for teachers EDUCATION INVESTIGATING HISTorIC SITES ST VIGEANS muSEum of CARVED STONES 2 Timeline The Picts remain a mystery Historical background to historians as they left behind very little evidence St Vigeans Museum is home to one one of the largest and finest collections that can tell us of their of the most important collections of in Scotland. Further fragments still history. They left no written legacy and even their Pictish sculptured stones in Scotland. remain in the church’s walls. language died out. All that is The site offers a fantastic opportunity The church of St Vigeans served as left is their beautifully carved to explore the lives of Scotland’s early stones and artefacts. Thus, the parish church for the people of what we do know about the people through the carved stones that Arbroath until the 16th century. The Picts has been written by they left behind. oldest parts date from the 12th century, other peoples. The church at St Vigeans is dedicated to though most of what you now see is AD 297 – The first written St Fechin (from whom it gets its name), the result of a 19th-century restoration, record of the Picts is made by a Roman writer who a 7th-century Irish saint. Though there when many of the Pictish fragments refers to the people living is no record of St Fechin having visited were uncovered. north of the Forth–Clyde Scotland, followers of his cult may have line as the ‘Picti’, thought An exploration of the churchyard will founded a monastery among the Picts by many to mean ‘painted uncover well-carved 18th-century people’. at St Vigeans as early as the 8th century. headstones, characteristic of Angus AD 565 – Saint Columba Evidence points to St Vigeans as being folk-art. Closer inspection of the church meets Bridei, King of the an important religious site associated wall will also show how some of the old Picts. Christianity begins to stones have been incorporated into the spread through Pictland. with a nearby royal centre from the 8th to the 10th century. This evidence building work. AD 658 – Invading Northumbrians threaten can be seen in the collection of more The stones in the museum itself provide to overwhelm Pictland. than 30 elaborately carved stones now a fascinating insight into Pictish life However, King Bridei wins a preserved in the museum. vital battle at Dunnichen and and beliefs at a time when Christianity re-establishes Pictish power Most of the stones were recovered from was spreading throughout the country. in the north. The battle is the parish church on the mound next The exact meaning of many of the commemorated in a stone to the museum, suggesting that the stones may never be known, but what carving which can be seen at Aberlemno. site had long been a place of religious they do tell us is that St Vigeans was a site of some significance in the Pictish AD 731–761 – The reign of significance. The collection includes King Oengus mac Fergus cross-slabs carved with Pictish symbols, heartlands of Angus. sees the Picts become cross fragments and grave markers. It is stronger as they win important battles with other people who threaten them. AD 843 – After years of fighting, intermarriage and the threat of the Vikings, Kenneth mac Alpin, King of the Scots, eventually unites the Picts and Scots under one leadership and ‘Scotland’, as we now know it, is born. The royal court is established in Pictland, but Pictish culture – such as language – seems to die out at the same time. © Crown copyright RCAHMS. Licensor www.rcahms.gov.uk An aerial view of St Vigeans Museum and Church investigating historic sites ST VIGEANS muSEum of CARVED STONES 3 Visiting Sites Integrating a visit with classroom There is a wealth of sites in the Angus area that can support any project on studies the Picts and Scotland’s early people. Selected sites Before the visit Pupils can create their own evidence include: record by: • Make a giant timeline with pupils, Pictavia • taking notes A Visitor Centre which counting back the centuries with them tells the story of Scotland’s from the present day to help develop • making quick drawings ancient Pictish people. a sense of time. Key events that they • using the stampers in the museum Meigle Museum already know about can also be marked Has an impressive collection on the timeline. On the Historic Scotland website www. of Pictish carved sculpture, historic-scotland.gov.uk/education_ • Both the churchyard and the museum including cross-slabs, unit teachers can find additional gravestones and rare display objects which have survived for resources to help with work on-site. architectural fragments that hundreds of years. Discuss with pupils demonstrate the artistry and which materials survive and which skill of Pictish stonecarvers. A Historic Scotland site. decay. Look at objects around them Suggestions for follow-up work today – which parts will survive for Dundee Museum longest? Get pupils to think about which After the visit pupils can pool their Displays a number of stones, findings to create a fuller record of the including fine symbol objects from the past might not have stones, cross-slabs and grave survived, and to think about the gaps in site and the lives of the people who markers. our knowledge of the past. lived there. A wide range of activities is possible, for example: The Meffan Museum, Forfar • Look at a map of known Pictish sites Houses a fine collection in Scotland and locate St Vigeans. • artwork relating to the stones, of stones from the area, including the famous Are there any Pictish sites in your local incorporated into a poster, leaflet or Dunnichen symbol stone. area? Which parts of Scotland did the souvenir design Picts seem to live in? Aberlemno Sculptured • carving on different types of stone or Stones modelling material A magnificent range of Pictish sculptured stones Working on-site • a slide show with commentary on depicting hunting and battle their visit scenes. A Historic Scotland During the visit to the museum and while site. looking around the churchyard, encourage • imaginative writing or role play based pupils to focus on the stones and buildings on the lives of people who might have The Curriculum for lived in St Vigeans at the time of the Excellence aspires to as evidence of the past, recording motivate and challenge information from these and the graphic Picts pupils through a wide range panels as appropriate. • imaginative writing based on the of learning experiences. creatures, symbols and scenes that Site visits have a particular Useful starting points in the museum they have learned about from the role to play in joining might be: up learning outcomes stones at St Vigeans across the curriculum and • What purpose did the stones have? in supporting the four capacities. • How did the craftsmen design and make them? • What stories do the stones have to tell? • Why have the stones survived for so long? investigating historic sites ST VIGEANS muSEum of CARVED STONES 4 Visiting St Vigeans Floor Plan of St Vigeans Museum – planning a visit This resource provides simple background information which can be read to pupils and points for discussion and investigation which will support the displays. The museum is organised as follows: A Place of Burial 1. Introductory Area Stones of St Vigeans 2. A Place of Burial/Stones of St Vigeans 3. Christian Figures 4. Symbols 5. Crosses Introductory Area A tour of the museum, with associated activities, should take no longer than 45 minutes to an hour. The museum itself is small and can only accommodate groups of 15 at a time. As a result you may want to consider how you plan a visit. If you have a larger class, it might be an idea to Crosses split them and arrange for alternative activities for one group, while the other Christian explores the museum. Figures The churchyard is certainly Symbols worth a visit and a few related activities are suggested in this pack. There are also interesting nature walks along the Brothock Burn nearby. Floor plan showing the locations of the different areas within St Vigeans. investigating historic sites ST VIGEANS muSEum of CARVED STONES 5 Tour notes: On the trail of stones and stories Location 1: Introductory area Gather your group in the small introductory area of the museum. Here they can dispense with coats and bags and be given a brief introduction to the site. Please note that although the stones have survived for over 1000 years, they are very fragile and should not be touched. Setting the scene This information can be read to pupils. • The Picts were the native people of this part of Scotland from at least the 3rd until the 9th century. Evidence from their lives has been found all across the north of Scotland. They were also the first Christians in this area. • It is clear from the evidence that Angus was a very important part of Scotland for the Picts. Many of the most important Pictish discoveries have been made in this area. • The Picts were especially famous for their art. This can be seen on their carved stones and jewellery. • One of the most important collections of Pictish stones was found here at St Vigeans. The stones that you are going to explore were found in the church and churchyard on the hill next door.