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Aboyne, Old Parish Church, Cross-slab
Cross Slab (Pictish), Ogham Inscribed Stone (Pictish), Pictish Symbol Stone (Pictish)
Site Name Aboyne, Old Parish Church, Cross-slab
Classification Cross Slab (Pictish), Ogham Inscribed Stone (Pictish), Pictish Symbol Stone (Pictish)
Alternative Name(s) Formaston; St Adamnan's Church; Victory Hall, Aboyne
Canmore ID 17507
Site Number NJ50SW 1.01
NGR NJ 5412 0014
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/17507
- Council Aberdeenshire
- Parish Aboyne And Glentanar
- Former Region Grampian
- Former District Kincardine And Deeside
- Former County Aberdeenshire
Formaston 1 (St Adomnan), Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, Pictish cross-slab with ogham inscription
Measurements: H 1.12m, W 0.43m, D 0.12m
Stone type: granite
Place of discovery: NJ 5412 0014
Present location: Victory Hall, Aboyne (I 6904)
Evidence for discovery: found lying in the kirkyard at Formaston before 1874 and moved to the grounds of Aboyne Castle by 1883. It was taken to Inverurie Museum in 1974 and thence to the Victory Hall, Aboyne.
Present condition: broken but the carving is in good condition.
Description
The original slab clearly tapered quite steeply, widening upwards towards the terminals of the side-arms of the cross, and the shape of the top is unknown but is likely to have tapered inwards towards the upper terminal. Only the lower right-hand portion of the slab survives and is carved in deep false relief and incision on one broad face. The cross is outlined by a roll moulding and has a large closed armpit. The surviving terminals of the shaft and side-arm link by means of scrolls to the roll moulding along the edge of the slab. The shaft is filled with interlace consisting of three vertical rows of double knots, with a central ring-knot. Flanking the shaft on the right is incised a mirror symbol, and a two-line ogham inscription which may have been added somewhat later. The outer line of ogham runs along the roll moulding on the edge of the slab. The oghams are in Irish script and language and include the Pictish names Nehht and Talorc.
Date: eighth or ninth century.
References: Forsyth 1996, 261-87; Fraser 2008, no 22.
Compiled by A Ritchie 2017
Formaston 2, Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, cross-incised stone
Measurements: H 0.40m, W 0.30m, D 0.16m
Stone type: granite
Place of discovery: NJ 5412 0014
Present location:
Evidence for discovery: the stone was noticed by the OS in 1972, lying at the foot of Formaston 1 in the grounds of Aboyne Castle.
Present condition:
Description
This slab has an almost pointed top and is heavily incised with an equal-armed cross, on which the vertical bar crosses the horizontal bar, and the arms are slightly expanded.
Date:
References:
Desk-based information compiled by A Ritchie 2017
Field Visit (13 July 1972)
The stone now stands at NO 5210 9924, having been moved from NO 5263 9953 about ten years ago. Laid at its base is a loose stone measuring 0.4m by 0.3m and 0.15m thick with an incised cross, 0.2m by 0.16m on its upper face. No information was obtained regarding its origin.
Surveyed at 1:2500.
Visited by OS 13 July 1972
Reference (1974)
This cross-slab has been removed to Inverurie Museum (NJ 7752 2160).
A A Woodham 1974.
External Reference (1980)
This stone measures 0.76m x 0.45m, and bears the remains of continuous interlace work on the left side, an Ogham inscription on the right and the mirror symbol between them. A double 'C' scroll extends from the corner of the interlaced area to the edge of the stone (Various readings of the Ogham inscription have been made).
Information from R Jones 1980.
Reference (1997)
Class II symbol stone bearing mirror, interlace-filled cross-shaft and incised Ogam inscription.
A Mack 1997.
Note (2004)
The cross-slab has is now displayed in the Victory Hall, Aboyne.
Information from RCAHMS (IFr), 2004.
