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Brough of Birsay 1 Description of stone
Event ID 1015533
Category Descriptive Accounts
Type Early Medieval Carved Stones Project
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1015533
Brough of Birsay 1, Orkney, Pictish symbol stone fragments
Measurements: H 1.84m, W 0.80m, D 0.03m
Stone type: old red sandstone
Place of discovery: HY 2398 2850
Present location: National Museums Scotland, Edinburgh (X.IB.243)
Evidence for discovery: found during excavations in 1935 close to the west wall of the graveyard.
Present condition: broken into sixteen fragments, now mounted together.
Description
One broad face of this slab bears carving in incision and low relief. The upper part of the slab is incised with four Pictish symbols, one above the other: a disc and indented rectangle (or ‘mirror-case’), above a crescent and V-rod, a Pictish beast and an eagle on foot, the latter two facing right. Beneath the symbols and carved in a mixture of low relief and incision are three warriors walking to the right. Each is dressed in a long belted tunic and bears a sword, square shield and spear. All have oval eyes and shoulder-length hair and the front two are bearded, and the higher social status of the foremost warrior is indicated by details such as his curled hair, luxuriant beard and greater height, along with a more elaborately decorated shield.
Date: seventh or eighth century.
References: Curle 1982, 91-2, 97; Fraser 2008, no 166; Scott & Ritchie 2014, no 1.
Compiled by A Ritchie 2016.
