Pictish Settlements

The first people to be described in Strathmore were the native Iron Age tribes that inhabited Scotland during the time of the Roman invasion around AD 79 under the command of Agricola.

The Romans considered these natives to be barbarians (whom they slaughtered in the Battle of Mons Graupius in AD 83), and in the third century AD referred to them as Picti (painted people). The descendants of these tribes merged together several centuries later which is when they were first recorded as the Picts.  

The Picts, as we now know them, lived in hillforts, ring forts with round houses and farmsteads. They were farmers, horse-breeders, fishermen, craftspeople, warriors and hunting people largely based in the north and east of the country. Pictish kingships were recorded from the sixth century. It is during this period that historical records state that a monastic scribe, Thana, lived in the villa at Migdele (Meigle) under the Pictish King Ferat (Uurad) who reigned between AD839 and 842. By the ninth century AD843 the Picts had merged with the Scots from the west (Dal Riada) to form Alba (Scotland).

Meigle was in the Pictish region known as Circin which covered Strathmore, Gowrie and the Mearns. In the absence of significant historical documents, our understanding of Pictish beliefs and ways of life are largely based on Pictish art and stone carving. The earliest carved stones depict a range of symbols, but as Christianity spread during the sixth century the stones portrayed more Christian symbols and bible stories. Few Pictish burial sites have been found locally but the cemetery at Bankhead of Kinloch provides a good example of round, square and conjoined barrow graves.  

The Pictish presence in Meigle is evident in the collection of 26 surviving Pictish carved stones dating from the eighth to tenth centuries found near the church grounds and now in the Meigle Museum. The collection points to Meigle being an important Pictish centre, possibly even a school of sculpture. The stones are all carved from local red sandstone and demonstrate a range of pre-Christian symbols (eg double disc and z-rod), animals (eg Pictish beast) and warriors. In Meigle these are combined with Christian crosses (cross slab stones) with intricate interlace carvings. There are also some rare architectural fragments (possibly derived from an earlier church), recumbent gravestones, and a tenth century hogback stone. Each stone has a set of richly decorated carvings with some spectacular displays of mythical beast including a griffin, man-eating manticore and horned beasts.    

The most famous stone at Meigle (Meigle 2) stands in the middle of the museum and is a large stone almost 2.5 metres from its stone base. It depicts a Celtic cross along with grotesque animals on one side and mounted huntsmen with their dogs as well as mounted warriors at the top of the other side. The centre of this side shows what is now believed to be Daniel in the lion’s den but has long been associated with Queen Vanora (or Guinevere) whom local legend says was held on nearby Barry Hill before being cast to the lions, or dogs, and torn to death and is said to be buried in Meigle kirkyard. At the foot of the stone we can see a centaur - half-horse half-man - holding axes in both hands and a leafy branch under his arm.  

The museum is managed by Historic Environment Scotland, for more information see www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/meigle-sculptured-stone-museum/