2 42 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F O S , MAY'11, 1891.

I.

REPORT ON THE SCULPTURED STOKES OLDER THAN A.D. 1100, WITH SYMBOL CELTID SAN C ORNAMENT DISTRICE TH N I , F TO NORTH OF THE RIYER DEE ; OBTAINED UNDER E VICTORITH A JUBILE EXCELLENCS E HI GIF F . TO H . R R YD GUNNING, F.S.A. SCOT. B . YJ ROMILL Y ALLEN, F.S.A. SOOT.

honoue Havinth d f beinrgha o g appointe Gunnine th o dt g Fellowship by the Council of the Society of Antiquaries, with a view to making an archaeological surveearle th yf yo sculpture d stone f Scotlandso o t g be I , submi e followinth t g wore reporth I kf hav o t e done durin pase gth t year. As a necessary preliminary I compiled a list of the sculptured stones older than A.D. 1100, with symbol d Celtian s c ornament, which have been already describe d illustrate an de Proceedings th n i de th f o Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, and in the late Dr Stuart's Sculptured Stones of Scotland, published by the Spalding Club. In this list were included three classes of monuments—(1) those with incised symbols; (2) those with symbol d Celtian s c ornament sculpture reliefn di d an ; ) thos(3 e with ornamen reliefn i t t withoubu , t symbols e objecTh f .o t o givet s concisels e a lis, th wa t s possibleya , sufficient particularo t s identify each stone by stating its exact geographical position, and adding a reference to the work in which, it was illustrated, thus forming a basis for future operations. The preliminary list was circulated by the Counci e Societth f o l y amongst archaeologist n differeni s t part f Scotso - land, wite vie th hf elicitinw o g further information about unpublished stones d correctinan , y inaccuraciean g s that might have escapee th d notice of the compiler. The names of the folio wing, persons, who have offered most valuable assistance in reply to this appeal, should be grate- fully mentioned:—Rev . MJ r . . SutherlandD Joass.A r D , ,. EevG . J . Michie . MacdonaldJ r M , , Provos . Eoss r A Wt M ., Mackay. R r M , Barclay, Mr Hugh W. Young, Mr A. Hutcheson, the Right Hon. the Earl of Southesk, Mr W. C. Joass, Rev. Dr G. Gordon, Dr A. Macnaughton, Dr D. Christison, Mr R. C. Graham, Miss Russell, and Miss Maclagan. intentione Councie Th th f o appointin n Gunnini le th o t e ggm Fellow- . E SCULPTUREREPORTH N O T D STONES OLDER THAN A.D. 11003 42 .

ship was that I should collect materials for a full descriptive catalogue of e sculptureth d stone f Scotlando s , illustrate correcy b d t outliness a o t , unifor s practicable mscala wa s e monumenta e th e f designo th , d san s upon them. Sinc r Stuart'D e s grea e tsubjec th wor s publishen o kwa e t th y b d Spalding Club, several new stones have been discovered, which require addee tob mako dt t completeei , and, invaluabl r Stuart'D s ea s volumes must always be, many particulars are omitted in the descriptions that might easily be obtained. The plates in Dr Stuart's book are not uniformly accurate, especiall s regardya e minoth s r details whicn o , o hs much often depends. The invention of photography has been followed by a much higher standard of excellence in the representation of archaeo- logical subjects n advancr a knowledg ou d e technican an i th e; f o e l minutia f Celtio e c ornament obtained fro e illuminatema studth f yo d MSS. has enabled us to draw the patterns on the stones more correctly. s suggestewa t I d tha I tshoul d mak a toue f inspectioo r e th f o n sculptured stones of Scotland, in order to ascertain the present posi- tions of those monuments that have been moved in recent years; to get the particulars omitted by Dr Stuart; to compare all his plates with the originals, so as to gauge their reliability; and to make drawings of stones not yet illustrated. Having made the proposed survey of the stones in pare f Scotlanth o t resulte d th Eivee nort y th sla f hro befor w Deeno I e, Societye th . My method has been to make sketches of the stones, with all the necessary dimensions and notes, supplemented by rubbings of the sculptured designs. After outlining the rubbings in ink, I have had them photographe scala f o d-Jt o e- ful l e photographsizeTh . e thesar n traced, and the necessary additions or corrections made by help of the sketches. During the months of July, August, and September last year (1890) I visited localitie e mos th mor r f o t o all0 n ei s(6 ) include northere th dn i d nan north-eastern section preliminare th f so y list, which compris districe eth t of Scotland lying north of the river Dee. It was unnecessary for me Shetlando t o g o t , e islandsth f Hebridese , o witth , as ,y han r o , exceptioe e th islan crosth e th f n e Canna dstoneo f so nth o l sal , have 4 42 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH 11 Y F , O SMA 1891 , .

been remove o Edinburghdt laboury M : s were therefore confine- ex d clusivel e mainland, th play o f m yt operationn o d o commenct an s swa e furthese th t a t point nort gradualld han y work southwards. I arrived at by train from on the evening of Monday, July 7the stonth . ew Herfrosa I me Skinnee th t Chapeln i w no , Thurso Museum; and the Ulbster stone, now standing in the grounds of Thurso Castle e forme Th s broke. wa r n into several pieces, which were piled one above the other, and stowed away under a table in the middl e so-calleth f eo d museum—i ill-kepn a f t lumber-roo dignie b n m-ca fied by such a name. When the fragments were brought to the light, thica d kan coatin f clao g y removed fro surfacee s mfortunatth wa I , e enough to discover that the back was ornamented with symbols, the existence of which does not appear to have been previously known. One of the symbols is particularly interesting as being the same which occurs on the stone at Sandside, in Eeay, although other instances have not been observed elsewhere. Ulbstee Th r ston s beeha en very barbarously deface haviny b d s it g nam t upoecu t righni e sculptureth t f acroso e son d places i faces d dan , moun a e mosf th o tn p d i expose to e onth d position possible. From Thurs I otoo e mail-carkth Bettyhillo t t a distanc, f aboueo t 0 mile3 s alon e nortth g h coas f Caithnesso t , returnin nexe th g t day. Bettyhilo t y wa Oe I lstoppe nth t Eeaya d , where ther fina s ei e cross- slab in the old churchyard that has not yet been illustrated. At Betty- hill I visited the Farr stone, and found it to be a much more beautiful t thaworar f nko woul e supposedb d fro e platmth n Stuartei • . I left Bettyhil Juln o l y llth, going Thursoa vi , Golspieo t , , wherI e spent a day in taking notes of the stones in the museum at Dunrobin Castle. This collection is housed in a separate building in the grounds of the castle, and has been admirably arranged by the Eev. Dr Joass. e Sutherlanth l Al e museumplaceth w d no stonen i d e ,ar sexcep e th t one at Farr, and the pillar in the garden of the castle. I need only mention the monuments that have not been hitherto described. They are 1numben 1i r altogethe rbelongin 8 ; Claso gt s I.—from Kintradwell 3, Little Ferry Clynd Linkan , e4 s Churchyar belongin3 d an ; o dt 1 g Class III.—from Clyne Church 1, Collieburn 1, and Loth Beg 1. The E SCULPTUREREPORTH N O T D STONES OLDER THAN A.D. 11005 42 .

stone from Collieburn is the lower part of a large upright cross-slab, ornamented with fine circular knotwork and key patterns. On the blank space at the bottom there is a Swastica cross incised. The small cross-slab from Clyne Church has some beautiful spiral designs upon it. All the localities where the stones near Golspie were found are situated near the sea-shore, in a district abounding with traces of the ancient inhabitants, suc s brochsa h , underground houses . Littl&c , e Ferry Link wila s di s a raisee tracsit f th f elano o t d n o dsea-beach , from whic hvasa t collectio f workeno d flint bees ha s n obtaine Edine th r -fo d burgh Museu f mNationao e Dunrobith f lo Antiquitiesm n ge e Th . Museum is undoubtedly the Ogham inscribed upright cross-slab, which came originally from Craigton, and for a long time subsequently stood in Golspie churchyard. I was considerably surprised to find it so large, y mind'havin m e Stuart' n ey i sg s n plateothei s a r, instancesl I have found original stones much smaller tha I nexpected e Th . reaso f thio ns thai s t Stuart's plate e l drawsortal ar sf extrao o st n - ordinary scales, in order to fit the size of the stone to the page; and it emphasise e importancsth f adoptineo mucs ga s possibla h a unifore m kinde worscala n th Stuart'I r f e.kfo o s Golspie platth f eo e stonee ,th broad face with symbols, and one of the narrow edges with spirals, are shown as if in one plane, which is very deceptive unless some explana- tio givens ni . Before leaving Golspie, where I received so much kindness from the Rev. Dr Joass, I was shown by him a sketch taken many years ago of a small inscribed stone built into the wall of the manse garden at Tarbet, t anonca dI e recognised thae letterth t s were Hiberno-Saxon capitals, similar to those in the initial pages of the Lindisfarne Gospels and other e samMSSth f e o . period e firsTh t . thing thereforn o ed thadi I t arriving at Tain, on July 14th, was to hire a trap at the hotel, and drive ofTarbeo t ft withou bu searcn i , t it f th o success dayo sTw afterwards. , however, when visiting Invergordon Castl . eSutherland A wit r hD I , gooe th dd fortunha fino e identicat e dth l stone lying outsid frone eth t door, with another fragment of a sculptured stone and some geological specimens. It had probably been removed from Tarbet by the late A. 1 Kirriemuir, for one case in point. 6 42 PKOCEEDING SOCIETYE TH 11 Y F , O SMA 1891 , .

M'Leod of Cadboll. The present owner, Captain M'Leod, has been aske preseno dt e Nationae stonth th t o et l Museu f mAntiquitieso t bu , finds himself unable to do so for family reasons. What remain inscriptioe th f so nins ni e lines, each containing about five letters. Paper casts have been submitted to Professor Westwood and other experts, with somewhat doubtful results as to the meaning. It seems to commence with the words " In nomine I P U X PI crux X P I." The diamond-shaped 0, which occurs on the Saxon coins of e Ardagth d Offan ha chalice e 1S Tth witH , lik n a hslopina e g cross witM he stroke threth d e,an vertical strokes clearle b n yca , distinguished, lettere th s bein relien gi f instea beinf do g incise uniqua s di e peculiarity e cas th lapidarf eo n i y inscription f thiso s period. Whilst at Tain I visited also Mgg, Shandwick, Edderton, Kincardine, Eoskeend an e discovere. e stonA on Th t r Boskeeew a . D ne y da b s ni . At Mgg I was most kindly received by the minister, the Eev. John Frazer. The monument in his churchyard is quite the finest wor f Celtin sculpturko i t ar c e whic I hhav e seen t excludinno , e th g high crosse Irelandf so . In the arrangement of the design it approaches more nearly to the ornamental e pageIristh f hso Gospelbooke th f so s tha othery nan e th , broad panelled border surroundin e wholth g e lik a efram e being specially characteristic of the illuminated pages. It would be very de- sirable to have a cast taken of this wonderful monument for the Edin- burgh Musexim thao s s ,extrem it t e beauty might become more widely known. The spiral ornament on the Ross-shire stones is particularly well executed reproduced an , e feature e samth th l sal ef o sclas f worso k MSS.e th n i ,almond-shapee sucth s ha d backgroune spotth n si d between the spirals. One of the most perfect examples is a specimen recently obtained from Tarbee Edinburgth r fo t h Museum. I visited Dingwall on July 18th on the way from Tain to Inverness. s courteouslHerwa I e y entertaine r Joass M e architect th y ,b d d an , brothe Eeve th r Joass e D .f showe o undescriberH n a . e dm d stone eh d discovereha d when restoring Dingwall church e afterwardW . w sa s e stonth t Strathpeffea e r whic r StuarD h t calle Dingwalth s l stone, although it is not at Dingwall at all. REPORT ON THE SCULPTURED STONES OLDER THAN A.D. 1100. 427

Whilst at Inverness I went to and Knocknagael. I also calle Provosn do r Wt M .Bos Mackayd san havo wh e, been good enough to send me photographs and rubbings of three undescribed stones—two fro mInvernese th Ardross n i w s no ,Museum anothe d r Frazean ,M n i rr Mackintosh's garde t Invernessa n I Lav. e receive dpapea r a cas f o t fourth new stone from the Rev. Dr Joass, which was found on Torgorm Farm, near Conan Railway Station, and is now in a rockery at Moniack Castle. When on my third visit to Rosemarkie I succeeded in finding the slab witpatterny hke itn s,o d beewhicha n I hunabl o tract e formen o e r occasions. Its position was shown me by the minister, the Rev. J. M'Dowall middle e churchyardth th n f i ,e o , turned wit sculpturee hth d face downwards, on the grave of Donald Bain. This is an instance of valuablea y wa t forgotten e ge ' stonth y ma e , then overgrown with grass, finalld an y completely lost. I staye t Nairda e monthnth frof o m, d durinJulen ye g th 21s o t t which time I examined the stones at Wester Delnies (a new one, told me of by the Rev. Dr Joass), Glenferness, Burghead (one new stone), Brodie, Altyre, Forres, Inverallan Congashd an , . At Burghead I received much civility from the owner of the place, Mr Hugh W. Young, of Kincorth, near Forres, whose able papers on his exploration f thiso s remarkable fortress have been recently placed before the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. He has within the last year foun n undescribea d d e churchyardstonth n i e , wit a hsmal l piecf o e interlaced work upon it, and two grooves at the sides, as if it had formed altar-tomn para f o t r sarcophagusbo e otheth f rO stone. s seen whilst t Congasa o t Nairn a tw greatese he th f appeareth , o e t interestm o dt s a , bein situ,n d i gformin an e e jambentrancth th g f a smalo s - o t een l closure, which, from the name of the field, " Pare an Chapel," was probably an ancient burial-ground. The place would be well worth ex- ploring thoroughly. From August 1st to 7th I stayed at Elgin, and visited the stones in the Museum and Cathedral there; and those at Birnie, Upper Manbean, Mortlach, Arndilly, Inveravon Covesee th d an a; caves. t InveravoA n thera smal s i e l undescribed fragment built inte th o 428 PKOCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, MAY 11, 1891.

e churchyardwalth f o l e cavTh e . with incised symbol t Covesea s s i a inaccessible at high water, except by some steps cut in a narrow cleft of the rock. It is situated at the top of a grassy slope at the foot of the cliffe entrancth , e being quit 0 fee2 e t above high-water marke Th . entrance is double, consisting of two passages about 6 feet high by 8 feet wide and 20 feet long, leading to an inner chamber, which extends about 30 feet further. Between the two passages is a solid rectangular mas f rocko s , supportin e superincumbenth g e tsymbol cliffTh e . ar s carvee side-wallth e passagen do th f o swhicy b s e cavth h s entered ei . The floor is of coarse" gravel to some depth, and appears to have been disturbe y explorersb d . Quantitie f limpeo s e seeb t no t shell e ar s amongst the gravel at the mouth of the cave. I left Scotland in August, and returned at the beginning of Septem- ber to complete my work for the year by seeing the stones. From Huntly I visited Tillytarmont, North Bedhill, Rhynie, Percy- lieu, Clatt, Newbigging Leslie, Insch, and Newton; from Inverurie, Kintore, Monymusk, Kinellar, Crichie, Logie Elphinstone, the , Drummuies, , Daviot d Bourtiean , frod an m; Aboyne, Mill of Newton, Migvie, and Tullich. I have to express my indebtedness to Mr Macdonald of Huntly, and the Rev. J. G. Michie, minister of Dinnet, for the valuable assist- ance they afforde n tracini e m dg stones whic d beeha hn removedd an , in many other ways I shoul. d like als mentioo ot usefuw n ho I foun l d . J Gurnell's r papea M f o re member , th reae Huntl th o t d f o sy Field Club, on " The Standing Stones of the District," containing a table giving particular sculpturee f eacth so f ho d stonesd otheHa r. districts been similarly dealt with, I should have been saved much unnecessary n Aberdeenshiri trouble stonew onle w sa yTh ne I s. e wer t Norta e h Redhil d FyvieI foun t an l bu d, that several monument d beeha sn removed from the positions they occupied when Dr Stuart's book was written, amongst followine whicth e har g :—

t Knockespoca Clatt w no , k House. Daviott Mounia w no ,e Castle. E SCULPTTJEEEEPOETH N O T D STONES OLDEE THAN A.D, 11009 .42

Mill of Newton, now at Tillypronie House. Percylieu t Cransmilla w no , . Monymusk, now at Monymusk Castle. t CrichieA , near Inverurie, thera ver s i ey remarkable monument with incised symbols that formerly stood nea n intrenchea r d circlf o e standing stones n whici , h sepulchral remain e pagath f no s period were beew nno erectes foundha t I d .insid intrenchmente eth t formei f i s a d, circle th par standinf f eo o t g stones t bee I ye hav nt . ableno ascero et - tain who was responsible for this ingenious method of falsifying archaeo- logical evidence for the benefit of posterity. It is gratifying to know that only one stone (at Ehynie) has been lato lostako to t e tt e altogetherpree meanye th t -r no sfo s thai o s , t i t servatio f thio n s clas f remainso s a matte, r whic w I hbeliev Ne e th e Spalding Club intends to take up. I exhibishowinp ma e a localitiet th ge thre th f eo s classe sculpf so - tured stones whicr fo ,followine hth I propos e us go et symbols :— S + ClasS Clas. sI Clas . sII s III.+

With e positionregarth o occupie t w de monument no th s y b d n i s Scotland e rivenortth f ro h Dee e followin,th g table will shoe wth relative numbers of each :—

IN CHURCHES OB CHURCHYARDS (28). Sandness, . Elgin, Elgin. Reay, . Inveravon, Banff. Farr, Sutherland. Bourtie, . Dingwall, Koss. Old Deer, Aberdeen. Rosemarkie (2), Ross. Dyce (2), Aberdeen. Edderton, Ross. Fetter-Angus, Aberdeen. Kincardine, Ross. Fyvie (2), Aberdeen. Nigg, Ross. Inverury (4), Aberdeen. Tarbet (1), Ross. Kinellar, Aberdeen. Inverallan, Inverness. Kintore, Aberdeen. Canna, Inverness. Rhynie (2), Aberdeen. Birnie (4), Elgin. Tullieh, Aberdeen. Burghead (2), Elgin. Tyrie, Aberdeen. Knockando, Elgin. Migvie, Aberdeen. 430 PROCEEDING E SOCIETY, 189111 TH Y F .O SMA ,

PRIVATN I E HOUSE GROUNDR O S S (31). Sandside House (from Cnoc Stanger), Knockespock House (from Clatt), Caithness. Aberdeen. Thurso Castle (from Ulbster), Caith- Mounie Castle (from Newton of ness. Mounie), Aberdeen. Dunrobin Castle, Sutherland. 39 Torry Street, Hnntly (from Leys luvergordon Castle (from Hilton of of Drummuie), Aberdeen. Cadboll), Ross. Keitll Hall (from River Don), Aber- Invergordon Castle (from Tarbet), deen. Ross. Logie Elphinstone, Aberdeen. Moniack Castle (from Torgorm), Ross. Newbigging Leslie Farmhouse, Aber- Moniack Castle (from Balblair), deen. Inverness. Newton House, Aberdeen. Balmacaan House (from Drumbuie), Tillypronie House (from Mill of Inverness. Newton), Aberdeen. Provost Ross's house at Inverness, Park House, Aberdeen. Inverness. Cransmill Farmhouse (from Percy- Mr Frazer Mackintosh's house at lieu), Aberdeen. Inverness, Inverness. Rothie Brisbane House, Aberdeen. Glenferness House, Nairn. Tillytarmont Farmhouse, Aberdeen. Burghead Harbour Office (from Burg- Aboyne Castle (from Formaston), head), Elgin. Aberdeen. Brodie Castle, Elgin. Aboyne Castle (from Loch Kinnord), Altyre House (from Duffus), Elgin. Aberdeen. Arndilly House, Banff. Monymusk House, Aberdeen. Logiemar House, Aberdeen.

IN OPEN FIELDS, BY ROADSIDES, OE ra PUBLIC STREETS (21). Edderton, Ross. Forres, Elgin. Shandwick, Ross. Balneilan, Banff. Rosskeen, Ross. Mortlach, Banff. Strathpeffer, Ross. Crichie, Aberdeen. Congash, Inverness. Drummies, Aberdeen. Dunachton, Inverness. Fyvie, Aberdeen. Knocknagael, Inverness. Huntly, Aberdeen. Lynchurn, Inverness. Inscli (Myreton Farm), Aberdeen. Wester Delnies, Nairn. Rhynie (Craw Stane), Aberdeen. Upper Manbean, Elgin. Maiden Stone, Aberdeen. SCULPTUREE REPOETH N O T D STONES OLDER THAN A.D. 11001 43 .

IN MUSEUMS (29). —At Oraigton, Sutherland. Bressay, Shetland. Dunrobin, Sutherland. Papil, Shetland. Kintradwell (4), Sutherland. Firth, Orkney. Little Ferry Links (4), Suther- S. Eonaldsay, Orkney. land. Flotta, Orkney. Golspie, Sutherland. Rosemarkie, Eoss. Collieburn, Sutherland. Tarhet, Ross. Lothbeg, Sutherland. Dores, Inverness. Findlanrig, Inverness. At Thurso— Benbecula, Hebrides. Skinnet, Caithness, Pabhay, Hebrides. At Kilbar, Hebrides. Ardross (2), Ross. Burghead, Elgin. Grantown, Elgin. A t Elgin— Kintore (2), Aberdeen. Burghead, Elgin. Drainie, Elgin. At Dunrobin— Clyne Kirkton (3), Sutherland. At London (British Museum)— Clyne Milton, „ Burghead, Elgin. t appearI s fro above mth f estoneo that ou ts from something like 110 localitie e northerth n si n half Scotlando f , those fron mi e abouar 0 3 t churches or churchyards, those from 30 in private grounds, those from n museums,i 0 3 d thosan 1 e fro 0 standin2 m n opei g n y b field r o s roadsides. motivee Th s which have actuated owner removinn i s monumente gth s into their private grounds have been in most cases, let us hope, a desire to give them better protection than is afforded when standing in the open fields, but it will be observed that the fact of an owner doing as he pleases wit stonee hth s shows tha considere h t s the parcepard e yar an t l propertys ohi f , and, lik serfe eth olden i s n sole timesb dt n I witca , . hit seems monstrous that such a state of things should be allowed to continue, and it is high time that the monuments should be acquired for the nation by a compulsory Act.

1 The museums are all public except the one at Dunrobin, to which, however, there is no difficulty in obtaining admission.