DOCSLIB.ORG

The Recumbent Stone Circles of North-East Scotland

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Recumbent Stone Circles of North-East Scotland The Recumbent Stone Circles of North-East Scotland . BurW . l A . byH recumbentA stone circle consists circlea of stones of graded tallestheight,in two the often quadrantSW inthe flanking prostratea block. Within circlethe there commonlyis ring-a cairn. SUMMARY recumbene Th a t stone circles (RSCs ScotlanE N f )o d (fi probabl) g1 y derived fro Clave mth a cairns of Inverness which have many features in common with them. The recumbent stone is an Aberdonian innovation. b Other features of RSCs appear to confirm this derivation. primare Th c y are f settlemeno a t lie e eass f Inscth jus o tsouthwardd o t t han s through Correen-Bennachie th towardp eGa s Alford. d Analysi f apparentlo s y early feature e circleth n s independentlsi i s y confirmee th y db archaeological find datede sb than .ca t e Later forms of RSCs are found around the primary areas, particularly to the west and north. The latest stone circles in the region retain only a few of the 'classical' features associated wit theshs i RSCst i e d forman , s that further sout Perthshirhn i e appea 4-Posters a r smald san l six- r eight-stono e circles. f locaa RSC e lar s developmen shod signan w t w f fe influenc o s e from more southerly sources. g Present archaeological evidence does not reveal any RSC much earlier than 1800 BC or later than about 1400 BC. INTRODUCTION Much of the data is derived from F R Coles (1900 to 1907 inclusive) whose detailed descrip- tion pland s an f circleScotlansE o N n si d remai startine nstudyth w ne gy . poinSoman r f fo teo his work was amplified by J Ritchie (1917-20 and 1923). Keiller (1934) published a short paper concerned mainly with RSCs in which he summarised his fieldwork but, regrettably, did not later enlarge this. Early excavations by Dalrymple and others were described by Stuart (1867). More recent investigations have bee Childy nb e (1934 Kilbride-Joned )an s (1935; 1936) onle Th .y other work deptn i RSCn Henshaly ho b s si l (1963, 32-39; 1972,273-76 discusses whicn )i ha e hsh d possible origins and dates. presene Th t pape examination bases i ra n do f seventy-founo r certain RSCs (Appendi) xA BURL RECUMBENE TH : T STONE CIRCLE NORTH-EASF SO T SCOTLAND 57 and eighteen other probable sites (Appendix B). The lists are not exhaustive. Coles and Ritchie proposed many other possible sites which have been lef 'nos a t t unlikelprovens i t i t ybu ' that their THE RECUMBENT STONE CIRCLES OF NORTH-EAST SCOTLAND Fiol inclusion would have advanced this particular stud l unexcavate al thes ya e yar eithed dan r very badly ruined or totally removed. CLAVA CAIRNS AND RSCs Clave Th a cairn f Invernes o sRSCe th f Aberdeed o s an s n shar common ei isolaten na d position around the north-east fringes of the Grampians; megalithic circles with stones graded in height; an interest in the south-west quadrant; ring-cairns; cupmarks; quartz pebbles; and cremation pitd san containing burnt material withi centrae nth l area. Bu differenceo t tw ther e ear s that mus e explaineb t positiva f di e relationshie b o t s pi proved. 58 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, 1969-70 . Positiona of sites Henshall (1963 ) point 20 t ,tha ou s t Clava cairn e low-lyingar s , eve slighn i n t hollows, often ignorin gsligha t knoll immediately adjacent t RSC Ye normalle . ar s stea r spun po yo r with wide views. Certain Clava cairns, however occupo d , y higher situation thesd san e appear centrae th t peripheran i bu lt no l areas where later versions migh expectede b t . Dalcross Mains (Henshall 1963, 374) on a hillock crest with wide views across the Moray Firth; Culduthel (ibid, 372) and Gask (ibid, 378) on slight rises; and Carn Daley (ibid, 367-8) on a hillcrest, are all in prominent positions, the last three being to the south of the main and probably primary Clava area, supportin suggestioe gth n tha choica t f higeo h positions might be a later development. To the north-east of Inverness one could expect to find sites intermediate between the classical Clava forms and the RSCs. Here Clava cairns also sometimes have the higher positions associated with RSCs wels DalcrosA s . a l s Mains ther Eastee ear r Clune (ibid, 387) at 500 ft OD with wide views to north and west; Moyness (ibid, 388) in a flat field but with gooa dnorthe vie th Littld wo t an ; e Urchan gentla n i yyD slopin(ibidO t f 0 ,g 388 45 field t )a . onle Thith ys si cupmarke d Clav aeastware sitth en o outsid e dli maie y eth nma t groui d pan route from Inverness to Aberdeenshire and the heavily cupmarked RSC at Rothiemay, Banff. (References for RSCs are given in the appendices). Even furtheease th t o that r Naire nth n site Uppee sar r Lagmore (ibid, 389-90; Coles 1907, 141-9) and Marionburgh (Henshall 1963, 391) in the Spey valley. The first is in a level position terraca secone th n sharpla buo d n s ei dti an abov y; riverslopine e OD th t f Th . 0 g fiel60 t da positions of these sites are sufficiently similar to RSCs for one to hypothesise that the RSCs of Aberdee tracee b y d nma fro Clave mth a cairns. b. Recumbent stone (pi 7) Thi featura s si e that never appear Clavy an a n sthosi n cairni r e No .site thers si larg y ean e blocking stone of which the recumbent could be a copy. Its origin remains a problem and at presen possibls i t i t et forwar onlpu o yt d several different theories. Atkinson (1962,17-20) suggeste origin d a comparabl a n i e featur t Lyleea s Hill cairn. ,Co Antrim (Evans 1953 , pointin5) , t thagou t apparent Lyles Hill fluted war beed eha n fount a d both Loanhead of Daviot RSC and East Finnercy cairn, Aberdeen. The Lyles Hill cairn-kerb 'recumbent', however, has no close resemblance to the Aberdonian stone circle recumbents and mors ha e affinities wit 'false hth e portals cairnf o ' s like Argyl, KintraB d lan (SimpsowA n 1967); Temple Wood, Argyll (Craw 1930) Auchagallond an ; , Arran (Bryce 1910), cairns geographically close to Ireland and in which all the 'recumbents' are kerbstones unlike those in Aberdeen. These Scottish cairns, however, do appear to be culturally related to the Clava group (Ritchie and Maclaren 1973, 11; Burl 1973, 40) and the discovery of a kerb-cairn at Culcharron, Argyll (Peltenburg 1973) with false portals and a cupmarked prostrate stone at the SSW in a position similar to the supine stones at Kintraw A and at Croft Moraig, Perthshire, increases the possibility that the origin of recumbent stones may lie within the Clava tradition, one version developin Greae footh e f th to t t gGlea Argylln i othee th , Aberdeenshiren ri . Another possible origin may be found in the makers of AOC beakers who entered Aberdeen shortly after 2000 BC, using in particular the R. Don as a port of entry/From present data it appears that bot positioe date broadle hth th ear d nan y coincidental with thos r primarefo y RSCs s noteworthi t I . y thapositioe recumbene th t th f no t stona SSW-NN n eo E n axii s si keeping wit orientatioe hth n preferre thesy db e peopl r theiefo r burials (Clarke 1970 , 455)62 , . associatioe Th rituaa n i l circl recumbena f eo t S-SSe stonth t bees eWa ha n site o notetw s t da outside Scotland where AOC sherds were found, in both cases being added to an existing monu- BURL: THE RECUMBENT STONE CIRCLE NORTH-EASF SO T SCOTLAN9 5 | D ment. At the Sanctuary, Wilts, a concentric stone circle succeeded a free-standing timber structure (Musson 1971, 371). Just outsid innee eth r circle lonthera s (Cunningge wa stoneholW SS e th -t ea 1931n to , pi t n)WoodhengeA . , Wilts sarsea , n 'recumbent' ston addeo s t eS wa df o jus W t timber ring 'B' subsequent to the erection of posts B8 and B9 (Cunnington 1929, 14). At both these sites there were AOC sherds (Clarke 1970, nos 1064F and 1107F). It is notable that at Loanhea f Daviodo potterther C C alss RS eotwa AO conjunction yi n with flat-rimmed ware. An analagous mixture of AOC and Knockadoon II ware was found at the ritual circle of Cashel- bane, Co. Tyrone (Davies and Mullen 1940) with a loose cupmarked stone at the S. juss i t tI possible thamakere th t f thiso s beaker pottery sometimes place recumbenda t stone at the S-SSW within ritual enclosures, perhaps related to the axial orientations of their burials. Certainly the distribution of early RSCs and AOC beakers coincide along the middle reaches of the R. Don in the first quarter of the second millennium. A recumbent stone circle might thus be the result of a fusion of beliefs from different cultures, a hybrid monument, pre- dominantly Clava wit grades hit d stone circle, ring-cair buriald nan customs witt innovae ,bu h th - recumbentioa f no t stone.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Scheduled Ancient Monuments List
    List of Scheduled Ancient Monuments North Ayrshire (excluding Arran) PARISH MONUMENT Ardrossan : Ardrossan Castle Boydstone Braes, motte Montfode Burn, motte Montfode Castle Beith : Cuffhill Plantation, long cairn Dalry : Aitnock, dun, Hindog Glen Fairlie : Castle Hill, earthwork SSE of Glenside. Fairlie Castle. Southannan Mansionhouse. Irvine : Seagate Castle. Lawthorn Mount, mound. Kilbirnie : Glengarnock Castle Kilwinning : Kilwinning Abbey Waggonway and bridge, SE of Saugh Trees Clonbeith Castle Largs : Castle Hill, fort. Hailie House, chambered cairn. Knock Jargon, cairn and fort. Knock, fort. Outerwards, Roman fortlet. Skelmorlie Aisle and Largs Old Parish Church. Little Cumbrae : Little Cumbrae Castle. Little Cumbrae, lighthouse tower and associated buildings. PARISH MONUMENT Portencross : Auld Hill, fort. Portencross Castle. West Kilbride : Blackshaw Quarry, cup and ring marked rock, 320m south of. Bushglen Mount, ENE of Bushglen. Castle Knowe, motte Stevenston : Ardeer Recreation Club, subterranean passage and cave. Kerelaw Castle Listed of Scheduled Ancient Monuments Isle of Arran Grid Ref. MONUMENT Prehistoric Ritual and Funerary 4433 69 NR978250 Aucheleffan, stone setting 550 NW of 393 69 NR890363 Auchencar, standing stone 90023 69 NR892346 * Auchengallon, cairn, 150m WSW of. 4601 69 NS044237 Bealach Gaothar, ring cairn 700m NW of Largybeg 4425 69 NR924322- Bridge Farm, stone settings 500m NNW and 1040m NW of 69 NR919325 90051 69 NR990262 * Carn Ban, chambered cairn 5962 69 NR884309 Caves, S. of King's Cave. 395 69 NR949211 Clachaig, chambered cairn 396 69 NS026330 Dunan Beag, long cairn and standing stone, Lamlash 397 69 NS 028331 Dunan Mor, chambered cairn, Lamlash 3254 69 NR993207 East Bennan, long cairn 4903 69 NS018355 East Mayish, standing stone 100m ESE of 4840 69 NS006374- Estate Office, standing stones 500m NE of 69 NS007374 398 69 NS0422446 Giant’s Graves, long cairn, Whiting Bay 90186 69 NR904261- Kilpatrick, dun, enclosure, hut circles, cairn and field system 69 NR908264 1km S of.
    [Show full text]
  • The University of Bradford Institutional Repository
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Bradford Scholars The University of Bradford Institutional Repository http://bradscholars.brad.ac.uk This work is made available online in accordance with publisher policies. Please refer to the repository record for this item and our Policy Document available from the repository home page for further information. To see the final version of this work please visit the publisher’s website. Where available access to the published online version may require a subscription. Author(s): Gibson, Alex M. Title: An Introduction to the Study of Henges: Time for a Change? Publication year: 2012 Book title: Enclosing the Neolithic : Recent studies in Britain and Ireland. Report No: BAR International Series 2440. Publisher: Archaeopress. Link to publisher’s site: http://www.archaeopress.com/archaeopressshop/public/defaultAll.asp?QuickSear ch=2440 Citation: Gibson, A. (2012). An Introduction to the Study of Henges: Time for a Change? In: Gibson, A. (ed.). Enclosing the Neolithic: Recent studies in Britain and Europe. Oxford: Archaeopress. BAR International Series 2440, pp. 1-20. Copyright statement: © Archaeopress and the individual authors 2012. An Introduction to the Study of Henges: Time for a Change? Alex Gibson Abstract This paper summarises 80 years of ‘henge’ studies. It considers the range of monuments originally considered henges and how more diverse sites became added to the original list. It examines the diversity of monuments considered to be henges, their origins, their associated monument types and their dates. Since the introduction of the term, archaeologists have often been uncomfortable with it.
    [Show full text]
  • The Phoenician Origin of Britons, Scots & Anglo-Saxons (1924
    THE PHCENICIAN ORIGIN OF THE BRITONS, SCOTS &: ANGLO-SAXONS WORKS BY THE SAME AUTHOR. DISCOVERY OF THE LOST PALIBOTHRA OF THE GREEKS. With Plate. and Mape, Bengal Government Press,Calcutta, 1892.. "The discovery of the mightiest city of India clearly shows that Indian antiquarian studies are still in theirinfancy."-Engluhm4P1, Mar.10,1891. THE EXCAVATIONS AT PAUBOTHRA. With Plates, Plansand Maps. Government Press, Calcutta, 19°3. "This interesting ~tory of the discovery of one of the most important sites in Indian history i. [old in CoL. Waddell's RepoIt."-Timo of India, Mar. S, 1904· PLACE, RIVER AND MOUNTAIN NAMES IN THE HIMALAYAS. Asiatic Society, Calcutta, 1892.. THE BUDDHISM OF TIBET. W. H. Alien'" ce., London, 1895. "This is a book which considerably extends the domain of human knowledge."-The Times, Feb, 2.2., 1595. REPORT ON MISSION FOR COLLECTING GRECO-SCYTHIC SCULPTURES IN SWAT VALLEY. Beng. Govt. Pre.. , 1895. AMONG THE HIMALAYAS. Conetable, London, 1899. znd edition, 1900. "Thil is one of the most fascinating books we have ever seen."-DaU! Chro1Jiclt, Jan. 18, 1899. le Adds in pleasant fashion a great deal to our general store of knowledge." Geag"aphical Jau"nAI, 412.,1899. "Onc of the most valuable books that has been written on the Himalayas." Saturday Relliew,4 M.r. 189<}. wn,n TRIBES OF THE BRAHMAPUTRA VALLEY. With Plates. Special No. of Asiatic Soc. Journal, Calcutta, 19°°. LHASA AND ITS MYSTERIES. London, 19°5; 3rd edition, Methuen, 1906. " Rich in information and instinct with literary charm. Every page bears witness to first-hand knowledge of the country ..
    [Show full text]
  • The Lives of Prehistoric Monuments in Iron Age, Roman, and Medieval Europe by Marta Díaz-Guardamino, Leonardo García Sanjuán and David Wheatley (Eds)
    The Prehistoric Society Book Reviews THE LIVES OF PREHISTORIC MONUMENTS IN IRON AGE, ROMAN, AND MEDIEVAL EUROPE BY MARTA DÍAZ-GUARDAMINO, LEONARDO GARCÍA SANJUÁN AND DAVID WHEATLEY (EDS) Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2015. 356pp, 50 figs, 32 B/W plates, 6 tables. ISBN 978-0-19-872460-5, hb, £85 This handsome book is the outcome of a session at the 2013 European Association of Archaeologists in Pilsen, organised by the editors on the cultural biographies of monuments. It is divided into three sections, with the main part comprising 13 detailed case-studies, framed on either side by shorter introduction and discussion pieces. There is variety in the chronologies, subject matters and geographical scopes addressed; in short there is something for almost everyone! In their Introduction, the editors advocate that archaeologists require a more reflexive conceptual toolkit to deal with the complex issues of monument continuity, transformation, re-use and abandonment, and the significance of the speed and the timing of changes. They also critique the loaded term ‘afterlife’ as this separates the unfolding biography of a monument, and unwittingly relegates later activities to lesser importance than its original function. In the following chapter, Joyce Salisbury explores how the veneration of natural places in the landscape, such as caves and mountains, was shifted to man-made monumental features over time. The bulk of the book focuses on the specific case-studies which span Denmark in the north to Tunisia in the south and from Ireland in the west to Serbia and Crete in the east. In Chapter 3, Steen Hvass’s account of the history of research at the monument complex of King’s Jelling in Denmark is fascinating, but a little heavy on stratigraphic narrative, and light on theory and discussion.
    [Show full text]
  • THE PINNING STONES Culture and Community in Aberdeenshire
    THE PINNING STONES Culture and community in Aberdeenshire When traditional rubble stone masonry walls were originally constructed it was common practice to use a variety of small stones, called pinnings, to make the larger stones secure in the wall. This gave rubble walls distinctively varied appearances across the country depend- ing upon what local practices and materials were used. Historic Scotland, Repointing Rubble First published in 2014 by Aberdeenshire Council Woodhill House, Westburn Road, Aberdeen AB16 5GB Text ©2014 François Matarasso Images ©2014 Anne Murray and Ray Smith The moral rights of the creators have been asserted. ISBN 978-0-9929334-0-1 This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 UK: England & Wales. You are free to copy, distribute, or display the digital version on condition that: you attribute the work to the author; the work is not used for commercial purposes; and you do not alter, transform, or add to it. Designed by Niamh Mooney, Aberdeenshire Council Printed by McKenzie Print THE PINNING STONES Culture and community in Aberdeenshire An essay by François Matarasso With additional research by Fiona Jack woodblock prints by Anne Murray and photographs by Ray Smith Commissioned by Aberdeenshire Council With support from Creative Scotland 2014 Foreword 10 PART ONE 1 Hidden in plain view 15 2 Place and People 25 3 A cultural mosaic 49 A physical heritage 52 A living heritage 62 A renewed culture 72 A distinctive voice in contemporary culture 89 4 Culture and
    [Show full text]
  • The Recumbent Stone Circles of Aberdeenshire
    The Recumbent Stone Circles of Aberdeenshire The Recumbent Stone Circles of Aberdeenshire: Archaeology, Design, Astronomy and Methods By John Hill The Recumbent Stone Circles of Aberdeenshire: Archaeology, Design, Astronomy and Methods By John Hill This book first published 2021 Cambridge Scholars Publishing Lady Stephenson Library, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 2PA, UK British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Copyright © 2021 by John Hill All rights for this book reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner. ISBN (10): 1-5275-6585-8 ISBN (13): 978-1-5275-6585-2 This book is dedicated to: Dr Joan J Taylor (1940-2019) Dr Aubrey Burl (1926-2020) “What was once considered on the fringe of archaeology, now becomes mainstream” and to Rocky (2009-2020) “My faithful companion who walked every step of the way with me across the Aberdeenshire landscape” TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Figures............................................................................................ ix List of Tables ............................................................................................ xii Acknowledgements ................................................................................. xiii Introduction ...............................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • East Aquhorthies Stone Circle Statement of Significance
    Property in Care (PIC) ID: PIC242 Designations: Scheduled Monument (SM90126) Taken into State care: 1963 (Guardianship) Last Reviewed: 2021 STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE EAST AQUHORTHIES STONE CIRCLE We continually revise our Statements of Significance, so they may vary in length, format and level of detail. While every effort is made to keep them up to date, they should not be considered a definitive or final assessment of our properties. Historic Environment Scotland – Scottish Charity No. SC045925 Principal Office: Longmore House, Salisbury Place, Edinburgh EH9 1SH © Historic Environment Scotland 2021 You may re-use this information (excluding logos and images) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit http://nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open- government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: [email protected] Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned. Any enquiries regarding this document should be sent to us at: Historic Environment Scotland Longmore House Salisbury Place Edinburgh EH9 1SH +44 (0) 131 668 8600 www.historicenvironment.scot You can download this publication from our website at www.historicenvironment.scot Cover image: The recumbent stone circle of East Aquhorthies from the south- west. © Crown Copyright: HES. Historic Environment Scotland –
    [Show full text]
  • Breeding Cattle G & CSE Parker Salties Sanday Orkney
    Aberdeen & Northern Marts A member of ANM GROUP LTD. THAINSTONE CENTRE, INVERURIE TELEPHONE : 01467 623710 WEEKLY SALE OF YOUNG & WEANED CALVES YOUNG BULLS & STORE CATTLE FRIDAY 14th DECEMBER 2018 SALE ARRANGEMENTS Sale Ring 2 at 10.00am Young and Weaned Calves Young Bulls Store Cattle TERMS OF SALE - CASH PASS PEN NO CONSIGNOR FA NO. Young & Weaned Calves G 111 5 Emslie Partners 006706 Little Barras Fordoun Laurencekirk G 112 1 J D Lyon Lower Wanford Banff 014656 Young Bulls G 113 3 W B Howie Nether Burnside Sauchen Inverurie 010196 G 114 3 G & C S E Parker Salties Sanday Orkney 018247 G 115 2 R Leggat Mormond Prop New Pitsligo 007708 BVD Accredited G 116-117 7 A D & H A Dent Douglashead Tarves Ellon 007607 BVD Accredited G 118-120 18 J Grant Higher Tullochgribban Dulnain Bridge Grantown on Spey Store Cattle F 100 4 B Wainwright Aquhorthies Farming No 1 Aquhorthies Inverurie F 101 1 Hfr B Miskelly Boulintogue Scotscalder Halkirk 015048 F 101 2 F Sleigh 25 Pringle Avenue Tarves Ellon 017793 F 102-103 7 J & W Keiro Netherton Glenlivet Ballindalloch 018115 F 104-105 8 I W Hair Barnhill Laurencekirk 009216 F 106 1 M & C Fotheringham Sauchentree Methlick 016310 BVD Accredited F 106 1 Hfr J M & JA Brown Howally Twatt Orkney 008590 F 106 2 Str East Comalegy Ltd 009086 East Comalegy Drumblade Huntly F 107-109 18 R & S Kinghorn Strathellie Fraserburgh 006194 F 110 2 K Kinghorn Strathellie Fraserburgh 006194 F 93 3 Str Messrs Cumming Lower Cook Crudie Turriff 008933 F 94 4 Hfr A Thomson Garvelside New Pitsligo 012102 F 95-97 14 Hfr West Brough
    [Show full text]
  • The Parish of Durris
    THE PARISH OF DURRIS Some Historical Sketches ROBIN JACKSON Acknowledgments I am particularly grateful for the generous financial support given by The Cowdray Trust and The Laitt Legacy that enabled the printing of this book. Writing this history would not have been possible without the very considerable assistance, advice and encouragement offered by a wide range of individuals and to them I extend my sincere gratitude. If there are any omissions, I apologise. Sir William Arbuthnott, WikiTree Diane Baptie, Scots Archives Search, Edinburgh Rev. Jean Boyd, Minister, Drumoak-Durris Church Gordon Casely, Herald Strategy Ltd Neville Cullingford, ROC Archives Margaret Davidson, Grampian Ancestry Norman Davidson, Huntly, Aberdeenshire Dr David Davies, Chair of Research Committee, Society for Nautical Research Stephen Deed, Librarian, Archive and Museum Service, Royal College of Physicians Stuart Donald, Archivist, Diocesan Archives, Aberdeen Dr Lydia Ferguson, Principal Librarian, Trinity College, Dublin Robert Harper, Durris, Kincardineshire Nancy Jackson, Drumoak, Aberdeenshire Katy Kavanagh, Archivist, Aberdeen City Council Lorna Kinnaird, Dunedin Links Genealogy, Edinburgh Moira Kite, Drumoak, Aberdeenshire David Langrish, National Archives, London Dr David Mitchell, Visiting Research Fellow, Institute of Historical Research, University of London Margaret Moles, Archivist, Wiltshire Council Marion McNeil, Drumoak, Aberdeenshire Effie Moneypenny, Stuart Yacht Research Group Gay Murton, Aberdeen and North East Scotland Family History Society,
    [Show full text]
  • A Reconsideration of Pictish Mirror and Comb Symbols Traci N
    University of Wisconsin Milwaukee UWM Digital Commons Theses and Dissertations December 2016 Gender Reflections: a Reconsideration of Pictish Mirror and Comb Symbols Traci N. Billings University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Follow this and additional works at: https://dc.uwm.edu/etd Part of the Archaeological Anthropology Commons, European History Commons, and the Medieval History Commons Recommended Citation Billings, Traci N., "Gender Reflections: a Reconsideration of Pictish Mirror and Comb Symbols" (2016). Theses and Dissertations. 1351. https://dc.uwm.edu/etd/1351 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by UWM Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of UWM Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. GENDER REFLECTIONS: A RECONSIDERATION OF PICTISH MIRROR AND COMB SYMBOLS by Traci N. Billings A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Anthropology at The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee December 2016 ABSTRACT GENDER REFLECTIONS: A RECONSIDERATION OF PICTISH MIRROR AND COMB SYMBOLS by Traci N. Billings The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2016 Under the Supervision of Professor Bettina Arnold, PhD. The interpretation of prehistoric iconography is complicated by the tendency to project contemporary male/female gender dichotomies into the past. Pictish monumental stone sculpture in Scotland has been studied over the last 100 years. Traditionally, mirror and comb symbols found on some stones produced in Scotland between AD 400 and AD 900 have been interpreted as being associated exclusively with women and/or the female gender. This thesis re-examines this assumption in light of more recent work to offer a new interpretation of Pictish mirror and comb symbols and to suggest a larger context for their possible meaning.
    [Show full text]
  • The Declining Pictish Symbol - a Reappraisal the Late Gordon Murray
    Proc SocAntiq Scot, (1986)6 11 , 223-253 The declining Pictish symbol - a reappraisal The late Gordon Murray SUMMARY The paper is mainly concerned with the three commonest Pictish symbols, the crescent, the double disc with Pictish the Z-rod and 'elephant' 'beast'.BStevensonR or K ideasDr The of and Dr I Henderson are outlined, namely that for each of these symbols a stylistic 'declining sequence' can be traced that corresponds approximately to a chronological sequence, enabling the probable place of origin of the symbol to be determined. The forms and distributions of the three symbols are examined in detail and it is argued that the finer examples of each are centred in different areas. For reasons which are stated, the classification of the crescent differs here from that made by Stevenson. The different decorative forms show significantly different distributions originthe but appears be to north. far most The the typicalin examples Z-rodthe of accompanying doublethe discfoundare predominantly in Aberdeenshire, where it is suggested that the symbol may have originated. Examples Pictishthe of beast hereare graded according extentthe to that their features correspond otherwiseor with lista whatof 'classical' the appear be to features form. distributionofthe The and general quality existingof examples suggest that originthe centre thisof symbol probablyis the in area Angusof easternand Perthshire. The paper also discusses arrangementthe symbolsthe of statements, in with some tentative remarks on the relative chronology of the mirror appearing alone as a qualifier. INTRODUCTION principle Th e declininth f eo g symbo thas i l t there existe prototypda r 'correcteo ' forr mfo at least some of the Pictish symbols, to which all surviving instances approximate in varying degrees, but from which later examples tend to depart more than earlier ones.
    [Show full text]
  • Dear Parent/Carer
    Education & Children’s Services Linda Evans Rector Inverurie Academy Jackson Street Inverurie AB51 3PX nd Tel. 01467 621655 2 October 2015 Fax 01467 624425 [email protected] Dear Parent/Carer SEVERE WEATHER ARRANGEMENTS As you know, the weather during winter can become severe quite suddenly. As a result of this, Aberdeenshire Council has clear policies and practices regarding snowstorm and other severe weather arrangements. This letter aims to outline our school procedures and includes a storm arrangements form which we would ask that you complete carefully and return by Friday 9th October 2015 1. SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS DURING SNOWSTORMS/SEVERE WEATHER If you live in an isolated location, and the weather is severe at the beginning of the day, it would be advisable for your child to remain at home for that day. On such occasions please phone and inform the school. If school transport is not running please do not bring your child to school. If you normally bring your child into school by car then you must come with your child to the School Office, so that we can advise you regarding the transport situation. In the past some pupils have been dropped off at school by parents/ carers who have then had to make a second journey immediately to collect pupils and take them home. 2. BUSES UNABLE TO REACH SCHOOL AFTER STARTING A JOURNEY The hirer will contact us. We will then attempt to contact those on the “priority calls” lists (as detailed further on in this letter), to let those involved know that their child/ward is coming home again.
    [Show full text]