Shandwick Stone Reverse Side

Shandwick Stone Reverse Side

ID: QZP40_2475_P002 DESCRIPTION: The Shandwick Stone stands on a hill above the village of Shandwick facing out to the sea. The stone is also known as Clach a' Charraidh or Stone of the Graves as a burial ground was recorded there in the 19th century. The Shandwick Stone is as Class II Pictish Stone which dates from the 8th or 9th century. A Class II stone is usually a quarried and cut rectangular slab. The carvings are very intricate and done in relief with one side having an elaborate Christian cross carving. The reverse side contains other Pictish symbols and scenes. The stone is about 10ft (3m) tall and blew down in a gale in 1846. It has since been restored and is now back on its original site but is now housed in a glass case. This image shows the reverse side of the Shandwick stone. It is has five panels. The top panel (unclear in the illustration) has a double-disc symbol over a Pictish beast. This is followed by a hunting scene and then panels of complex knot work and spiral patterns. The patterns of serpents trying to bite their own bodies is similar to examples of 8th-century metal work found in Britain, Ireland and the rest of Europe. This plate is taken from 'Archaeologia Scotica or Transactions of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, vol IV, part III' PLACENAME: Shandwick DISTRICT: Fearn OLD COUNTY/PARISH: ROSS: Nigg DATE OF IMAGE: 1857 PERIOD: 1850s SOURCE: Highland Libraries COLLECTION: Fraser Mackintosh Collection (illustrations) Asset ID: 31704 KEYWORDS: