Clach a' Charridh facts for kids

The Clach a' Charridh or Shandwick Stone is an important Pictish stone found near Shandwick in Easter Ross, Scotland. It's a special type of ancient monument called a "Class II" stone, which means it has both Christian symbols and older Pictish designs carved on it. This stone is protected as a scheduled monument, meaning it's a very important historical site.

What is Carved on the Stone?

The Shandwick Stone is a "Class II" Pictish stone. This means it has a cross carved on one side, which faced the sea. The other side, which faced inland, shows everyday scenes from Pictish life.

This inland side has six different pictures, called panels, carved into it:

• The very top panel shows a common Pictish symbol: a double-disc.
• Below that is a Pictish Beast, a mysterious animal often seen on these stones.
• The third panel might show a hunting scene. You can see warriors, an eagle, a wild pig (boar), and other animals.
• The bottom three panels are filled with beautiful woven patterns, like braids or knots.

Today, the stone is kept safe inside a special glass room to protect it from the weather.

History of the Stone

The name Clach a’ Charaidh comes from the Gaelic language and means ‘stone of the grave-plots’. This tells us that the area around the stone was once a burial ground. Records from 1889 show that this burial ground was last used during a serious illness outbreak in 1832. It was later ploughed over around 1885.

Images for kids

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  A view of the Shandwick Stone in its protective glass cover.

fr:Pierres Pictes de Ross