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Latitude: 57.2916 / 57°17'29"N
Longitude: -2.3999 / 2°23'59"W
OS Eastings: 375993
OS Northings: 822403
OS Grid: NJ759224
Mapcode National: GBR X7.L331
Mapcode Global: WH8NP.3ZFK
Entry Name: Brandsbutt Stone, symbol stone
Scheduled Date: 31 December 1924
Last Amended: 3 March 1999
Source: Historic Environment Scotland
Source ID: SM90039
Schedule Class: Cultural
Category: Crosses and carved stones: symbol stone
Location: Inverurie
County: Aberdeenshire
Electoral Ward: Inverurie and District
Traditional County: Aberdeenshire
The monument to be scheduled comprises the Brandsbutt Symbol Stone, which lies in the western outskirts of Inverurie, some 65m SW of the former steading of Brandsbutt. It was scheduled in 1924 and taken into guardianship in 1948. The scheduled area, however, was never defined. The present rescheduling rectifies this shortcoming.
The stone is a Class I symbol stone of dark whinstone, triangular in shape and measuring 1.07m high, 1.27m wide and 0.91m thick. It seems that it may originally have formed part of a stone circle, two other stones of which are built into the field dyke some 7m and 11m E of it respectively. The stone was at one time broken up and itself built into the field dyke. However, in 1950, after being taken into state care, the dyke was removed from around it and the pieces were reassembled.
The inscribed face of the stone shows to the right the serpent and Z-rod and crescent and V-rod symbols and on the left an ogham inscription, interpreted as reading: IRATADDOARENS.
The area to be scheduled is roughly trapezoidal, measuring some 8.7m along its N boundary, 10.8m on the SE, 7.9m on the W and 2m on the NW. This area is indicated, as accurately as map scale allows, in red on the accompanying map extract.
Source: Historic Environment Scotland
The monument is of national importance because it represents an unusual example of a Pictish symbol stone bearing a unique ogham inscription. It contributes to our understanding of art, literacy, culture, society and the reuse of prehistoric monuments in the second half of the first millennium AD. Its importance is signalled by its status as a Property in State Care.
Source: Historic Environment Scotland
Bibliography
RCAHMS records the monument as NJ 72 SE 12.
Bibliography:
Cross, M. (1994) Bibliography of Monuments in the Care of the Secretary of State for Scotland, 74-5, Glasgow.
Historic Environment Scotland Properties
Brandsbutt Stone
https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/brandsbutt-stone
Find out more
Source: Historic Environment Scotland
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