Early Pictish stone discovered in Caithness to be unveiled in Thurso
A Pictish stone unearthed in Caithness nearly three years ago will go on display in Thurso from today after undergoing conservation work in Edinburgh.
Lord Thurso is due to unveil the Class 1 Pictish relic at the North Coast Visitor Centre this afternoon, where the impressive find will stand alongside a similar stone discovered nearby in the 18th century.
The original Ulbster stone was discovered in 1770 in St Martin’s Burial Ground and is now proudly displayed in the stone room at the museum.
The newly discovered stone is to be named Ulbster 2 and will stand beside the first Ulbster stone, where both will remain on permanent display.
The Pictish carved stone was discovered by Fiona Begg in August 2022 and Historic Environment Scotland (HES) awarded grant funding to Yarrows Heritage to enable the cleaning and conservation of the stone.
HES says that the stone is an important example of Pictish art and helps strengthen the connection of the local community to the area’s Pictish past.
As a Class 1 stone, it features no clear Christian iconography, and dates between the 6th and 8th centuries. 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.
Roland Spencer-Jones, chairman 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.”
Most Pictish stones were carved over a thousand years ago, and HES said the discovery of this stone in 2022 shows that some remain buried in the landscape.
Islay Macleod from Yarrows Heritage said previously: “It’s a significant find and there is already a Pictish stone at the museum in Thurso which was discovered in the 18th century.
“To get two Pictish stones from one location in Caithness is pretty unusual and they seem to be very early. It shows that the area around Ulbster was of great significance in the pre-Christian and Christian eras.”
A newly carved replica of the ninth-century Skinnet Stone was recently put in place at Halkirk after it was meticulously carved over the space of a year based on research around the original, which is also housed at the North Coast Visitor Centre.
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.
“Yarrows Heritage have safeguarded this important artefact through working with stone conservators and local curators and have ensured the local community will benefit from the stone and the story it can help to tell.”