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Post by James McComas on Nov 25, 2021 14:54:37 GMT
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Post by James McComas on Nov 25, 2021 21:40:08 GMT
This is from the Highland Pictish Trail leaflet. From Dunnicaer,Covesea and other sites the earliest symbol stones have now been pushed back to the 4th century -
The Pictish stones have been conventionally divided into three groups:
Class 1 : unworked stones or boulders, with symbols only incised on them, dating
from the 6th, 7th and 8th centuries.
Class 2 : major works of art, dating from the 8th and 9th centuries. They are quarried
and cut rectangular slabs, usually of sandstone, which are finely carved in relief with
Pictish symbols mingled with Christian motifs. On one side there is often a large
cross, with its surface and surrounding spaces filled with elaborate designs. The
surface style of the decoration is generally similar to manuscript illumination and
religious metalwork of the period.
Class 3 : this is a catch-all for any Pictish sculpture from the 8th or 9th century, where
no symbol has been identified. It includes fine cross-slabs, recumbent gravemarkers,
free-standing crosses and composite stone shrines.
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Post by James McComas on Nov 26, 2021 11:33:37 GMT
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Post by John Wombell on Nov 26, 2021 15:13:55 GMT
A few thoughts.
I think smple is best when it comes to classification systems. When we tried to develop a system for classifying rock art it became something of a nightmare.
We never seem to discuss age and gender when it comes to who might have inscribed or carved Pictish Stones. One proposal is that symbol combinations mean matriarchal lines. Some symbols like most in caves suggest a very immature hand. Were Painted Pictish Pebbles a product of Pictish playschool? Another topic little discussed is whether some fantasmagical symbols at least were produced originally under the influence of drugs or trance. Who came up with the first Pictish Beast I wonder. Was it a flash in the pan moment that caught on and what state were they in at the time?
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