2 days ago
- General
- The Herald Scotland
Ancient Pictish stone goes on display at North Coast Visitor Centre
Historic Environment Scotland (HES) awarded grant funding to Yarrows Heritage to enable the cleaning and conservation of the stone.
The restored stone was unveiled at North Coast Visitor Centre museum by Lord Thurso on Friday.
HES said the stone is an important example of Pictish art and helps strengthen the connection of the local community to the area's ancient past.
As a 'Class 1 stone', the ancient monument no clear Christian iconography, and dates between the 6th-8th century.
The meaning and significance of the carvings on Pictish Class 1 stones are still being unlocked by modern historians and archaeologists.
This discovery is expected to help local experts develop further understanding of this heritage and enhance a sense of place and local pride for the residents of Caithness, HES said.
The stone is to be named 'Ulbster 2 Stone' and will sit in the museum beside the first Ulbster Stone, which was discovered in 1770 in the same burial ground.
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Both stones form part of the North Coast Visitor Centre's Stone Room collection, where they will remain on permanent display.
Roland Spencer-Jones, Chair of Yarrows Heritage, said: 'This is an important day for Caithness archaeology, when another newly discovered Pictish stone gets added to the stunning collection of Pictish art already in the North Coast Visitor Centre.
'We are grateful to all our funders in providing the funds to rescue this stone and allow it to be displayed in the museum.'
Dr Susan O'Connor, Head of Grants at HES, said: 'Strengthening communities' connection to their local heritage is at the heart of our grant programmes, and we are pleased to support the conservation of the Ulbster 2 Stone, and ensure its future in a local museum.
