When we were up in Aberdeenshire a few weeks ago we took the time to visit some of the standing stones in the area. Actually we drove into rural Angus from Aberdeenshire. The information board below is in Aberlemno. There is one large stone in the churchyard and some others on the edge of a nearby road.
As you can see one side of the stone is Christian. The stones date from around the 800s AD,
but the other side of it has been carved with men and horses, more usual Pictish symbols.
The stone below is the back of the one underneath it, the Roadside Cross.
There is a very faint design on the stone below but it has not fared so well as the others. I find it amazing that the rough weather of the north-east of Scotland hasn’t eroded them all completely though. Many of the headstones in the churchyard that are just a few hundred years old aren’t in the best of condition.
Fascinating – thank you for sharing these! I think I may have seen something about them on the History of Scottish Art programme but it’s wonderful to see your photos.
kaggsysbookishramblings,
Yes I’m fairly sure they did feature in that programme, we’ve been meaning to go for years. I was quite surprised that they are all completely open to the elements. I think there’s a huge one in Forres which is covered by a sort of glass display case.
Wow those are so neat!
Stefanie,
I’m not at all religious but I love these for the designs and just the fact that they are so old.