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Burghead Description of stone
Event ID 1022861
Category Descriptive Accounts
Type Early Medieval Carved Stones Project
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1022861
Burghead 1, Moray, Pictish symbol stone
Measurements: H 0.69m, W 0.43m, D 0.08m
Stone type: sandstone
Place of discovery: NJ c 109 691
Present location: National Museums Scotland, Edinburgh (X.IB.95).
Evidence for discovery: one of many bull carvings said to have been found during quarrying of the wall of the upper citadel to find building stones from around 1800 onwards, of which six have survived (Macdonald 1862). According to ECMS, this one was found in the well, but Macdonald is clear that this was not so and that the stone was found during rampart-quarrying around 1809 (Macdonald 1862, 356, fn 1).
Present condition: good, some weathering.
Description
One broad face of this slab is incised with a bull walking towards the right. His head is held relatively low and his tail is swishing across his rump.
Date: seventh century.
References: Macdonald 1862, 347, 355-7; ECMS pt 3, 119-20; Henderson & Henderson 2004, 31-5; Scott 2005; Fraser 2008, no 152.1.
Desk-based information compiled by A Ritchie 2017.
