Tullich Pictish Stones

Since the 18th century, 27 intricately carved stones and a large stone basin, possibly a font, have been discovered at the Tullich Church site. These were found within the old graveyard and the church itself. Among them is a Class I Pictish stone, known as T1, which is believed to date from the 6th to 8th centuries AD. The remaining 26 stones are thought to belong to the later Pictish to Early Medieval period (7th to 9th centuries AD), with all but five featuring cross marks.

Today, the finds are stored in an enclosure directly next to the old ruined church.

Our visit to the Tullich Pictish Stones

My wife and I stopped in for a flying visit to the Tullich Stones while making our way to Balmoral Castle. I love learning about the Picts; they were such mysterious and enigmatic people. On this trip, we had already visited the Maiden Stone and the Picardy Stone, so I was eager to see more!

There is a large parking area east of the new cemetery, so it was easy to pull off the A93 and park up. Entering the gate, we followed the path down to the left and saw a large display shelter holding many Pictish and medieval stones.

 

 

 

The shelter is made from concrete and is protected by hardened glass sheets. It's an excellent way to display them as you can see them up close, but it's a shame you can't see the other sides of the stones. I'm glad these stones aren't left out in the elements like the Maiden and Picardy stones, though.

On the Pictish symbol stone (T1), I noticed the familiar hand mirror symbol and double disc with a z-rod. I wonder why these symbols always appear on these stones over such a vast area.

 

 

 

Tullich Kirk

Directly next to the stones is the ruin of Tullich Kirk, which is now just a roofless shell. The church is a very early ecclesiastical site dating from the year 600, founded initially by Saint Nathalan. Later in its life it even has links to the Knights Templar in the 1200s.

 

Carved Stones

Fifteen of these stones (T1–T15) and a stone font are currently on display at the church, while T16 and T17 can be viewed at the nearby Ballater Station. T16 features a Greek-style cross, whereas T17 bears a Latin-style cross. These two stones were unearthed in 2013 during archaeological excavations on the northern side of Tullich's old graveyard.

Only 17 stones from the site were documented before the church's restoration work in 2019. However, several previously unknown stones were discovered within the church's structure during the restoration. While some of these newly found stones are still undergoing conservation, others, like T19 and T20, remain in their original locations. T19 and T20, both incised with small equal-armed crosses, serve as lintels over a window and a door in the church's south wall.

The Tullich collection is one of the most significant in eastern Scotland, illustrating the importance of Tullich during the Late Pictish to Early Medieval period. The most recently discovered stones further underscore this, representing a style not commonly found in this region of Scotland.

Pictish Symbol Stone

Among the stones, only T1 showcases "traditional" Pictish symbols, decorated with a double disc, Z-rod motif, and beast and mirror symbols. This stone, made from schist, was once used as a lintel at the top of a door or window in the church's north wall.

Cross Slabs

The other stones on display feature various styles of crosses, with T2, T3, T4, T7, T9, T10, and T11 incised with outline Latin-style crosses. T2 was previously used as a lintel over a door in the church, while T7 is believed to have been removed from the church's south wall. T8, T12, and T14, also incised with outline crosses, were likely parts of a lintel above a door.

T13 is unique with an equal-armed outline cross, differing from other stones at the site, while T5 and T6, crafted from siltstone or sandstone, are incised with Greek-style crosses encircled within double rings.

T15, a garnet mica schist stone, is adorned with small equal-armed crosses comparable to T19 and T20.

A noteworthy feature is the pink granite basin or "font," roughly circular in shape with a flat base and a drain hole on one side. Its original use and date remain uncertain.

Conclusion

We had a short but sweet visit to the Tullich Pictish Stones. There are a variety of interesting stones, large and small, and the Tullich Church next door adds interest with its own fascinating historical stones on show.

Given the simplicity of the parking, there's no excuse not to stop while travelling the A93 and take in some of Scotland's ancient history.