Archaeology Notes

Event ID 715281

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/715281

NT41SW 3 43728 14111

(NT 4372 1411) Symbol Stone (NR)

OS 25" map (1968)

This Class I symbol stone datable approximately to the 6th or 7th century A D (E W MacKie 1975) stands on the lawn in front of the house at Borthwick Mains. It is 1.5m high and roughly square in section, each face measuring about 36cm across. The figure of a fish, 94cm long, with the tail downwards, is cut into the stone with pecked lines. A hole near the top of the pillar suggests that it was once used as a gate post.

R W Feachem 1952; RCAHMS 1956, visited 1951.

The symbol stone is as described and it is well preserved.

Visited by OS (MJF) 15 January 1980

The carving of a salmon is likely to be a marker denoting fishing rights on the River Teviot, erected by local Britons imitating the Picts.

C Cessford 1994.

Class I symbol stone.

A Mack 1997.