Blackford Churchyard. Detail of gravestone, M.A, 1684. Digital image of PT 14739/2

Description Blackford Churchyard. Detail of gravestone, M.A, 1684. Digital image of PT 14739/2

Date 1984

Collection Papers of Betty Willsher, historian, St Andrews, Scotland

Catalogue Number SC 803303

Category On-line Digital Images

Copy of PT 14739/2

Scope and Content Gravestone of 'M A', Blackford Church and Churchyard, Blackford, Perth & Kinross This gravestone features an unusual sweeping profile with volutes at the angles adorned with swirled roses. These are an ancient symbol of love and renewal. The stark skull and crossed bones in the centre of the stone is an obvious symbol of mortality, a warning to lead a more virtuous life. The skull is primitively carved with drilled holes for eyes, a small row of teeth, and, bizarrely, a moustache and beard. Scottish gravestones feature a wealth of imagery and symbolic devices which represent trade emblems, symbols of death and resurrection, and Biblical scenes. They offer a fascinating insight into how our ancestors saw themselves and how they wanted to be remembered, as well as providing a store of information for people interested in family or local history, and folk art. This shows the gravestone of 'M A', which is dated 1684. No further inscriptions are available for this monument. Many early gravestones simply feature initials rather than full names, perhaps to save on cutting time for the mason, or because people in small communities would know to whom the stone was dedicated. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/803303

File Format (TIF) Tagged Image File Format bitmap