A remarkable stone, carved approximately 1,500 years ago, has been uncovered in a Scottish cemetery. This cross-slab features depictions of a bull, pelicans, and inscriptions from an ancient alphabet, crafted by Scotland’s early inhabitants known as the Picts. The Picts were the indigenous people of Scotland and are regarded as the ancestors of today’s Scottish nation. The newly found illustrated cross-slab was excavated last month from the Old Kilmadock cemetery near Doune, Scotland. According to Stirling Council archaeologist Murray Cook, the stone was created by the Picts between 500 AD and 700 AD, shedding new light on the historical interplay between culture and faith in northern U.K.
A Stone That Adds Complexity to an Otherwise Streamlined History
The Picts are believed to be descendants of the Caledonii and other Celtic tribes noted by Roman historians. It was these Roman writers who introduced the term “Pict,” referring to the people’s legendary tattoos and war paint that helped unify various indigenous groups against the Roman incursion into northern Britain. Standing at 119 centimeters (47 inches) tall and 82 centimeters (32 inches) wide, the so-called “Old Kilmadock stone” was crafted by the Picts inhabiting northern and eastern Scotland during the early medieval era. This artifact features a rounded top adorned with animal motifs and a segment of Ogham script, a medieval alphabet.
Mainstream historians generally concur that after the Picts successfully repelled the Romans in the late 5th century, they expelled the remaining Britons from Scotland in 685 AD. The Picts are thought to have solidified and defended their empire until Viking incursions began in the northeast around the early 10th century. However, the discovery of this cross-slab at the boundary of Roman and Pictish territories complicates this seemingly straightforward narrative.
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The Pictish cross-slab features an area on its underside believed to contain ancient Ogham script. Researchers theorize that this slab has endured over time because it was later repurposed as an ornate grave marker in the Old Kilmadock cemetery. This cross-slab is not only the first of its kind found in this part of Scotland but also indicates that the site served “multiple functions,” as demonstrated by three distinct features. Kelly Kilpatrick, a historian and Celticist at the University of Glasgow, noted to Live Science that while the stone appears similar to a gravestone, its rounded top and circular, knotted cross render it a unique variant of Pictish cross-slab.
The stone additionally bears an Ogham inscription, typically used to document names of notable social figures. However, Kilpatrick stated that he would need to lift the stone before he could interpret the inscription, as it is currently obscured by mud. Dr. Cook mentioned that the presence of Ogham script suggests an influence from Irish Christians and speculated that it might signify a lost “Pictish monastery.”
Deciphering the Symbols on the Pictish Cross-Slab
The research team believes that the meticulously carved birds represent pelicans, symbolizing esoteric traditions where a pelican feeds its starving young by tearing at its own flesh. Cook explained that this imagery reflects themes of “Christ and the Last Supper that transition into the Eucharist.” Additionally, a four-legged creature depicted is likely a bull, symbolizing “a family, a region, or an ancient deity.” The archaeologists propose that this cross-slab was originally “erected as a public monument by a wealthy patron to celebrate both their Pictish heritage and their Christian faith.”
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In March of this year, I reported on another significant Pictish stone discovery in Angus, Scotland, which was hailed as “the find of a lifetime.” Dr. James O’Driscoll from the University of Aberdeen stated that this stone was carved between 500 AD and 800 AD and showcased “a blend of classically pre-Christian Pictish symbols with newer Christian imagery.”
Similarly, this latest stone stands as evidence of transitional periods in Scottish history when ancient Pictish symbols were reinterpreted through a Christian lens. Although the Romans departed Britain in the late 5th century, their most lasting legacy—Christianity—was inscribed onto ancient Pictish stones as a means of conversion. To facilitate this transition, early Christians did not seek to alter Pictish beliefs outright; instead, they encouraged a reinterpretation of indigenous symbols. However, once this figurative door was opened, significant changes ensued, leading to the eventual decline of the Pictish empire under Christianity and Viking invasions by the early 10th century.
