A richly carved Pictish slab brings crosses, symbols, human figures, animals and tools together on two densely worked faces.
Quick facts
- Date
- Probably 8th or 9th century
- Architect / designer
- Pictish sculptors; individual makers unknown
- Type
- Upright Pictish cross-slab with relief carving on both faces
- Designation
- Scheduled monument (SM90115)
- OS grid reference
- NN 94629 56530
Architecture, archaeology and continuing use
The sandstone slab stands about 1.5 metres high. One face carries a decorated cross and nine surrounding panels of biblical and fantastical imagery; the reverse combines Pictish symbols, seated and mounted figures, tools and a border formed by elongated fish-tailed beasts.
Its story
The stone belongs to the Early Historic Pictish sculptural tradition and was recorded near Dunfallandy by nineteenth-century antiquaries. It entered state care and was scheduled in 1923; later rescheduling clarified the small protected area around the slab.
Why it is included
Scheduled status reflects the stone’s exceptional sculptural quality and its national importance for understanding Pictish art, belief and symbol systems.
What to notice
- The cross and its nine smaller narrative or symbolic panels.
- Paired crescent-and-V-rod and animal symbols on the reverse.
- Tools, human figures and beasts contained within the sinuous outer border.
Reading the surroundings
The site is free and open year-round but lies on working farmland. Use the signed approach, keep dogs and children under control, and never touch, rub or climb the carved stone or shelter.
Timeline
- 8th–9th century Pictish craftspeople carved the cross, symbols, figures and animals onto the slab.
- 16 November 1923 The monument received statutory protection under the contemporary ancient-monuments system.
- 30 September 1997 Rescheduling clarified the extent of the protected area around the stone.
- 2026 Historic Environment Scotland keeps the monument open without charge throughout the year.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
Interpretations of individual figures and symbols remain debated, and the stone may have been moved within the immediate locality.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: Dunfallandy Stone, SM90115 — Designation status, mapped location, date, fabric and architectural or archaeological interest.
- Historic Environment Scotland: Dunfallandy Stone — Current property-in-care identity, opening arrangements and responsible access on farmland.
- Trove: Dunfallandy Stone — National archaeological record, earlier descriptions, archival images and interpretive references.
Location
OS grid reference NN 94629 56530 · Location confidence: High: the national designation supplies an official mapped National Grid Reference; an additional source confirms the Place relationship, history or current identity. · Select the marker to open its satellite view in Google Maps. On desktop, drag Pegman (the yellow figure) onto a blue road. On mobile, turn on the Street View layer and tap a blue road. Other photo markers may be user-contributed.
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