Scheduled Maintenance
Please be advised that this website will undergo scheduled maintenance on the following dates: •
Tuesday 12th November from 11:00-15:00 & Thursday 14th November from 11:00-15:00
During these times, some services may be temporarily unavailable. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Burghead Description of stone
Event ID 1022864
Category Descriptive Accounts
Type Early Medieval Carved Stones Project
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1022864
Burghead 3, Moray, Pictish symbol stone fragment
Measurements: H 0.41m, W 0.53m, D 0.18m
Stone type: sandstone
Place of discovery: NJ c 109 691
Present location: Elgin Museum (1871.4)
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). This
one was found at Burghead sometime before 1867 and was in private hands in Elgin before being presented to the museum.
Present condition: this water-worn boulder is broken top and bottom, but the carving is largely intact, though there is surface pitting.
Description
One broad face of this fragment is incised with a bull walking towards the right. His head is slightly lowered but his tail hangs at rest.
Date: seventh century.
References: Macdonald 1862, 347, 355-7; ECMS pt 3, 121; Henderson & Henderson 2004, 31-5; Scott 2005; Fraser 2008, no 152.3.
Desk-based information compiled by A Ritchie 2017
