FOGS Samhain News Volume X number 1, All Hallows, November 1998

FOGS News Volume X number 1, All Hallows, November 1998

Power of the Pictish Church

PICTISH RELIGIOUS sites throughout Northeast Scotland can be detected in several ways: sparse records

recall foundations at Deer, Kinneddar, Forglen, Turriff & Monymusk. Most often a placename or patron saint

reminds us of their signifigance in the centuries between the earliest so-called pagan years documented by

Roman & Northumbrian historians and the 9thC when Christian Scots and Kenneth macAlpin made an effort

to impress on the populace their knowledge of Columban (Celtic) Christianity.

However from at least the year AD717 the Picts under King Nechtan had conducted their own highly-evolved

form of Roman Christianity with the approval of both Northumbria and Rome - a powerful alliance. Power

brought wealth; fertile land increased riches. Wealthy landholdings were the prize for Scots who displayed

Christian reform as their goal. Picts had become almost totally Christian by the time of King Nechtan's death

in AD734. Whereas Nechtan is commemorated in Aberdeenshire in placenames like Abersnithock,

Monymusk and Tullynessle where he is patron saint, this great Christian king's name appears regularly in

ogham inscriptions on Pictish stones - many in Caithness, but some in NE Pictland such as Afforsk,

Formaston-Aboyne and possibly Dyce St Fergus. When the capital of Pictland was by the 8th & early 9thC

clearly established in Forteviot, it was natural to mark the achievements of successive High Kings in stone.

The beautiful & evocative Dupplin Cross stood high above Forteviot to mark the deeds of Custantin who

reigned 789-820 and is recorded as creator of the religious foundation at Dunkeld. The 'Drosten' stone at

St Vigeans appears to mark the reign of King Uorad 839-842, just before the macAlpin takeover. It is

significant that macAlpin made a point of proclaiming 'his' foundation at Dunkeld by bringing the relics of

Columba there in AD848/9. He continued to reign from Forteviot and died there in his 'palacio' in AD858.

It is in this context that the recent removal by Historic Scotland of the Dupplin cross from its hillside above

the Pictish capital to an indoor location in Edinburgh should be viewed, alongside its significance to the Nation

in situ , as a monument to one of the last Pictish kings.

The right of the author to the above material and research is asserted; any duplication of this material

Dyce & Dupplin moves

WE promised to keep you posted on developments at Dyce - following the removal of all symbol stones

(Classes I & II) and cross-incised stones & slabs from the niche in St Fergus' kirk to Historic Scotland (HS)

conservation department in Edinburgh. The official word is that they will not be returned until Aberdeen City

Council cooperates in providing an enclosure to be built after committee decision-making involving all

interested parties (perhaps relevant to note that your society has not yet been invited to give views).

Nevertheless, as we know well, at committee level this process is almost bound to take several years.

However HS has proudly announced the discovery of a grandiose ogham in near-perfect state of

preservation on the rear face of the Dyce Class II cross slab and, while we are delighted about the discovery,

we feel it would be appropriate to have the stones back in their place of origin.

PERHAPS because of such a revelation, Historic Scotland have been spurred on to remove the Dupplin

Cross from its original site overlooking Forteviot in Strathearn also to Edinburgh for 'conservation'. It might

be said the Dyce issue had not the slightest hint of delay on grounds of public interest, as no local supporters'

group was given time to muster any opinion or in fact requested to do so. But Dupplin is another matter. This

is a particularly sensitive issue, as the local populace were not at all in favour of the stone's being moved.

Heated debate over several years clearly indicated local support for a shelter in situ - the minister

supporting the wishes of the parish, while the landowner, Lord Forteviot, sided with the public servants. According to

one local source, HS carried out what we in the Northeast call a 'midnight flit' - literally removing the stone

overnight, to avoid confrontation. HS' stance is that the stone needs conservation & the 'Custantin' inscription

needs study. A cast previously taken made progress in decyphering that; its first 2 read: Custantin filius

Fircus - clearly a pre-macAlpin Pictish use of Latin 'son of' (Scots used maqq) to describe the sponsor or

object of reverence of the stone, Custantin (son of Fircus) High King of the Picts who died in AD820. Indeed

if further computer-enhancement is needed to read the illegible lines which follow, one would hope that the

cast, not the original, would be used. It will be interesting to monitor developments to see whether the

'conservation & study' ploy will be applied to many other stones which need protection, but whose local

supporters favour their remaining in original locations.

[Ed note: since this item was published in November 1998, the Dupplin Cross has been installed in the

Museum of Scotland - see update Dupplin in situ or in seclusion on our newsletter page, along with

current statement on its fate by Historic Scotland - MY1999]

Standingstones Vandalism

SADLY Standingstones recumbent stone circle on the Kirkhill at Dyce comes in for a lot of misuse (NJ 859

132). Graffiti and litter left over the summer can be dealt with by human carers, but the most recent bout of

vandalism threatens the stones themselves. FOGS RedAlert team reports that sometime during August 1998

a bonfire or bonfires had been set under the leaning slab which projects between two flankers towards the

centre of the circle, while portable stones had been placed on either side of a makeshift hearth to contain a

blaze. Heat generated over years of this type of misuse has caused a major crack in the recumbent. Historic

Scotland, in whose care the monument stands, were informed and it is hoped that this time the circle will be

provided with sufficient protection to deter such mindless activity. FOGS supports increased legal pressure

on vandalism of this kind and any member wishing to write to her/his MP is encouraged to do so. A comment

from HS Chief Inspector that this kind of activity was noted ongoing in the 1920s does little to reassure us.

But Dyce RSC stands within the jurisdiction of Aberdeen City Council and the City's Archaeology Keeper

Ms Judith Stones is known for efficiency and has an active team. In view of the City's lack of monuments of

such antiquity (ca. 5000 years old) when compared with the rich heritage of its hinterland, and considering

public interest in its history and prehistory, it is hoped effective conservation will result.

[Ed: note since this item was published in November 1998, HS chief inspector and author of the remark

mentioned has retired , but more positively, Historic Scotland has coordinated and funded conservation

work at the Standing Stones of Dyce. MY- October 1999]

Altyre slab origins confirmed

ELGIN Museum conference was seminal with speakers including Dr Isobel Henderson & Martin Carver

providing much new information; not least of which was the discovery of Altyre cross' original findspot at

Longhillock on the Alves-Duffus march NJ14-64.

Our Annual Meeting is on Thursday, December 17th 1998 at Marischal Museum, at which we are fortunate

to have Northeast native and renowned early historian, Dr Penny Dransart speak. She has spent several

recent summers entrenched (literally) in the early Episcopal Palace at Fetternear; her subject is 'Chritianity

& the Picts in NE Scotland' Any outstanding annual dues may be paid up then.

. . .membership feedback. . .

MEMBERS prompted by our RedAlert on the Dyce recumbent stone circle anxious for firmer handling of

vandalism at ancient monuments are encouraged to write to their Member of Parliament. Residents of

Aberdeen have most influence in this case, but all of Aberdeenshire is at risk, judging by recent reports

from

English Heritage of similar activities occurring in South Britain. Thanks to a timely warning, FOGS may yet be

able to prevent a rash of public vandalism of the worst kind. This is important in our area of interest, as we all

know how fragile is our cluster of antiquities; but also how much more pressure must be put on public servants

to take their responsibilities seriously. The A96 Kintore bypass with demolition of the Roman marching camp

is a case in point. FOGS can encourage and support, suggest and advise. It is up to our official bodies to

implement a strategy which not only protects but respects a unique heritage. They are after all employees of

agencies paid for by the Nation, responsible to the Secretary of State for Scotland and subject to public

opinion.

[Summer 1999 update: official state body now called the Scottish Executive, MY Ed.]

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