Nigg Stone facts for kids
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The Nigg Stone is a very old and special stone from Pictish times. It's a type of stone called a "cross-slab" because it has a cross carved on one side. Experts think it was made around the end of the 700s. It is not complete, as parts of it were lost long ago.
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The Amazing Nigg Stone
The Nigg Stone is one of the most beautiful and detailed carved stones left from the Picts. The Picts were an ancient people who lived in what is now Scotland. This stone is also one of the most fancy carved stones from early medieval Europe.
Where the Stone Was Found
The Nigg Stone was first placed near the entrance to the church grounds in Nigg, in an area called Easter Ross. Today, you can see the stone inside the parish church itself. It has been put back together to look more like it did originally.
What the Stone Shows
One side of the Nigg Stone has a very detailed cross carved into it. This cross sticks out from the stone, making it "high relief." The other side shows a complicated picture with many figures. Some parts of this picture were purposely damaged a long time ago.
Among the carvings, you can see two special Pictish symbols. There is an eagle and a Pictish Beast, which is a strange animal shape. You can also spot a sheep and a triangular harp. This harp is the oldest known example of a European triangular harp. There are also scenes of people hunting.
Experts believe the picture tells a story from the Bible about King David. The carvings on the cross side look very much like other crosses found on Iona. This suggests that the same artists might have made these stones for different people.
The Stone's Journey and Repair
The Nigg Stone was broken into pieces in the 1700s. The top and bottom parts were roughly joined together with metal, but the middle part was thrown away.
In 1998, a small piece of the missing middle part was found by Niall M Robertson. He found it in a stream below the churchyard. This piece shows most of the "Pictish beast" symbol. It was kept safe in Tain Museum for a while. In 2013, this small fragment was put back onto the main stone during a restoration project.
Why the Nigg Stone is Important
The Nigg Stone is considered a scheduled monument. This means it is a very important historical site that is protected by law. It helps us learn a lot about the art and beliefs of the Pictish people.
