medieval-atlas/events-to-about-850/53

Transcription

Pictish monuments The map shows the find spots of boulder stones incised with the unique Pictish symbol designs. 11 will be seen mat symbol stones are found nonh of the Forth-Clyde line in the dislr'icts which Bede. writing in the eighth century, knew 10 be populated by PiclS. Symbol stones are not found in the regions where the SCOIS settled in the early sixth century. The designs for some ofthe animal symbols are related to the designs used for three ofthe Evangelist Symbols in illuminated Gospel Books wrinen in the second half of the seventh century. Whether the Piclish animal symbols come before or after the manuscript crealUres is a manerof controversy: but il can be said with confidence that symbol stones were being put up in the seventh century. 11le meaning of the Piclish symbols and the function oflhe stones is not known. Some of the symbol designs are engraved on silver neck chains and some are incised on (he walls of caves. Recently a number of stones incised with a range ofsymbols have been shown 10 be directly associated with burials. • Single stones kms 0 25 100 • Two or more stones .. 7' 0 10 20 30 40 60 1 .. miles IBH Pictish symbol stones 53