Publication Account
Date 1987
Event ID 1016952
Category Descriptive Accounts
Type Publication Account
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1016952
The church at St Vigeans presents a striking sight, perched on a small steep knoll above the Brothock Bum. Although most of the present building belongs to a 19th century restoration, the site has a long ecclesiastical history and bears the name of a 7th century Irish saint, Vigianus. The collection of early stone-carving now housed in a converted cottage at the foot of the knoll was discovered during the re-building of the church, most of the stones having been incorporated into its walls. Most were originally freestanding upright monuments, a few were recumbent or horizontal tombstones, and one or two may have been architectural pieces which once decorated an early church on the site. Overall, the collection is similar in range to that at Meigle (no. 76), and the absence of early symbol stones is a notable feature of both. Many of the St Vigeans stones have suffered badly from misuse as building material, and some survive only as fragments; only the most interesting of the 32 pieces will be treated here in detail.
Stone no. 1 is known as the Drosten Stone, after the first word of the unusual inscription set within a panel at the base of one of the narrow sides of the slab. This is one of only eight inscriptions written in roman script that have been found in Pictland. It reads
DROSTEN:
IREUORET
[E]TTFOR
CUS
The precise meaning is obscure, but it is generally agreed amongst scholars that Drosten, Uoret and Forcus are personal names and that the inscription is most probably commemorative. The stone was carved in the early 9th century, a handsome tall cross-slab with prominent Pictish symbols created in relief on the back, above various animals, a bird and a fish, and hooded archer; this is one of the rare representations of a crossbow.
Although sadly mutilated (the carving on the back obliterated and the slab re-shaped), no. 7 retains enough of its sculptured face to give an impression of its former grandeur, with robed and seated clerics and fine interlacing on the cross. No. 11 is another damaged but still impressive cross-slab, with two robed clerics sitting on a bench and a quaint figure in baggy pleated trousers on the reverse. No. 8 is probably part of an architectural frieze, perhaps unfinished as one panel is empty. No. 14 is an elaborate recumbent tombstone, heavily decorated, with a slot at one end to take an upright cross.
Information from ‘Exploring Scotland’s Heritage: Fife and Tayside’, (1987).
