| FOGS News Volume XIV number 1 Candlemas 2003 |
|
| Pictish Cross-incised stone - sacred setting threatened |
| PICTOPHILES are aware of accepted classification of carved stones of Eastern Scotland into groups denoting |
| a rough time period and sculpting method: Pictish 'class I' for incised carving, roughly dating to AD6-7thCC |
| (some have suggested as early as 5thC) and 'class II' dating from Nechtan's national initiative to convert his |
| people to Christianity in the 8thC. These stones are usually carved in relief with elaborate decorated panel |
| infill reminiscent of the illuminated manuscript art of the period, notably from anglian Lindisfarne (which |
| influenced Nechtan's 'romanizing' campaign, deliberately separated from that of Iona). 'Class III' stones, |
| usually showing mounted aristocracy plus cross art, are more numerous in Moray and Angus and less evident |
| in Aberdeenshire, where a simpler style of conversion sculpture appears: the plain incised cross, called 'class IV' |
| by Isabel Henderson ('Early Christian Monuments displaying crosses but no other Ornament' in Alan Small's |
| The Picts: a new look at old problems Dundee 1987). Where Aberdeenshire misses out on mounted horsemen, |
| it certainly makes up in cross-incised 'pillow-stones', so called in literature of the time because of the monastic |
| habit of sleeping with head on the cross and sometimes carrying these portable 'pillows' on pilgrimages of |
| conversion. Crosses, both elaborate (rounded terminals) and simply incised, have been found at Fintray, Deer, |
| Monymusk, Botriphnie, Tofthills Clatt, Culsalmond, Aboyne and Dyce. They are an important record of our |
| earliest conversion as a Pictish nation, as well as a reminder of Aberdeenshire's conservative approach to |
| anything new! The most recently discovered cross-stone, however, found in the wall of an early 19thC steading |
| at Kirkton of Bourtie, adjacent to Bourtie Kirk, 4m from Inverurie (newsletter Vol.XII-4, 2001)appears not |
| to be important enough in the corridors of Historic Scotland to assign it the protection of 'scheduling'. |
| (private comm. FOGS/HS 2002) |
|
| The reason given is that the cross-stone, almost identical to another carved in similar pink granite and embedded |
| in the Kirkyard wall a stone's throw away, is 'not in situ' (HS quote) and 'best way of preserving the stone is for |
| it to be removed from the steading wall and to be deposited with most local museum.' While professing to protect |
| our most fragile heritage in situ, it seems the lumbering giant of bureacracy is poised to strike again with little |
| thought given to the sacred context or to local opinion. It is admittedly true that the 'class IV' cross-stones of |
| Inverurie kirkyard disappeared after the Ministry of Works assumed charge of the cemetery post-WWII, but |
| the Bourtie crosses are both embedded in structures associated with and meaningful to the Kirkton and as |
| such are more likely to survive and be appreciated where they are than in a museum drawer. |
|
| The situation is marginally complicated by the fact that the steading owner is presently considering an application |
| for planning permission to convert it for dwelling houses, but local planning/heritage (Gordon House, Inverurie) |
| are well aware of its significance and are meticulous and dependable on 'delicate' issues. Local MP/MSPs are |
| investigating the illogical manipulation of stones of 'national importance' by HS, who also unfortunately have |
| power over buildings (to 'list' or not to list). Pictish and early mediaeval historians such as Lloyd Laing and |
| Nigel Pennick have written deploring this cavalier attitude by a government department, and magazines like |
| Pictish Arts/ Northern Earth have featured the threat to the stone in recent editions. However, if we do not |
| stand up for our own heritage locally, a fate may befall it similar to that of the Pictish stones of Dyce (still in |
| HS vault, unlikely to be returned until money is found to do up St Fergus church, Dyce). |
|
| As it stands, a 'catch-22' situation exists: because the stone has not been 'scheduled', HS has no power to |
| remove it; but because it is not protected by 'scheduling', a non-heritage-minded councillor in committee is |
| free to overrule planning for economic gain. May we ask those of you who scan local news to keep this little |
| stone firmly in the forefront of your awareness and either write to planners at the appropriate time and/or write |
| to your MP/MSP asking for a change in legislation at government level. Thank you |
| FOGS ©2003 Marian Youngblood |
|
| Sixth Dark Age Conference |
| THERE IS still time to register for the 6th Day Conference in this series to be held 22 February 2003 in the |
| Purdie building University of St Andrews: 'Landscape & Environment in D.A. Scotland', chair Barbara |
| Crawford; send cheque (£15, conc.£12) to: |
| Dark Age Studies at Dept. of Medieval History, 71 South Street, St.Andrews KY16 9AL |
|
| Venus, Jupiter as 'morning stars' |
| WHILE scanning the heavens, as circle-watchers do, we are currently blessed with Jupiter as the brightest orb |
| in the night sky; but while presently at its closest to earth (even with smallest telescope, its belts & 4 largest |
| moons visible), the planet seems still more beautiful in pre-dawn sky when it is joined by the rising Venus (SE, |
| with Jupiter setting in W). |
|
| 'Crop Circle' still there |
| FOLLOWING equinox item (VolXIII-3) on the man-made bale circle, it is pleasing to know both farmer |
| Peddie and NE weather are cooperating in maintaining its position on this wild and exposed slope [NJ 801 |
| 249]. As a sculpture and reminder of how the original recumbent stone circle may have looked, its bales will |
| remain until July when decisions to plant oil-seed rape will be made. |
|
| Congratulations to Meyn Mamvro |
| SISTER stones-loving organization Meyn Mamvro, who take care of business in Cornwall and have been |
| instrumental in putting pressure on authorities to do a better job with sacred stones in the SW, have reached |
| their 50th issue. We commend them on their work of 16 years. http://www.meynmamvro.co.uk |
|
| Recommended Books |
| OCCASIONALLY we suggest titles from a list of recent publications - the following are recommended by |
| our book reviewers: |
|
| Spynie Palace and the Bishops of Moray : history, architecture & archaeology by John Lewis & |
| Denys Pringle 2002 ISBN 0-903903-21-0 |
|
| Aberdeen: an in-depth view of the city's past by Alison Cameron & Judith Stones 2001 |
| ISBN0903-903-19-9 (both above are Soc.Antiqs monographs) |
|
| The Heirs of King Verica: culture & politics in Roman Britain by Martin Henig, Tempus 2002 |
| ISBN 0-7524-1960-9. |
| Particularly interesting cultural commentary on Agricola, Mons Graupius (not a war historian) |
|
| Elphinstone lecture |
| MEMBERS may be interested in a contribution to the Elphinstone Institute's programme for 2003 to be held |
| in the Regent Lecture Theatre, University of Aberdeen: 18 February, 7:30pm Dr Emily Lyle of School of |
| Scottish Studies Univ Edinburgh 'The Guidman's Craft & other special Places & Times' £2. |
