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Latitude: 57.829 / 57°49'44"N
Longitude: -4.1585 / 4°9'30"W
OS Eastings: 271911
OS Northings: 884204
OS Grid: NH719842
Mapcode National: GBR J831.1VX
Mapcode Global: WH4DS.3H02
Entry Name: Edderton cross slab, 25m SSW of Edderton Free Church
Scheduled Date: 18 May 1925
Last Amended: 19 September 2016
Source: Historic Environment Scotland
Source ID: SM1678
Schedule Class: Cultural
Category: Crosses and carved stones: cross slab
Location: Edderton
County: Highland
Electoral Ward: East Sutherland and Edderton
The monument comprises a single Pictish cross slab, or symbol stone, dating to the 8th or 9th century AD. Formed of red sandstone, the stone measures around 2.3m high, 0.65m wide, and 0.2m thick, tapering slightly towards the top. There is an incised Celtic-style cross on the west face, and a Latin-style cross above a horseman in relief, with two further incised horsemen below, on the east face. The monument is located within the kirkyard of the former Edderton Free Church, at around 15m above sea level.
The scheduled area is circular on plan, measuring 2m in diameter and centred on the stone, to include the remains described above and an area around them to allow for the support and preservation of the monument, as shown in red on the accompanying map.
Source: Historic Environment Scotland
The monument is of national importance because it has an inherent potential to make a significant contribution to our understanding of the past, in particular Pictish society and Early Medieval Scotland. The monument is one of a large collection of Pictish symbol stones within Scotland, yet despite the number of these monuments, there remain many unanswered questions regarding their original form and function. The simple design style of this particular stone, along with the absence of any additional common Pictish symbols, differs from many of the other examples known, and the reasons for this differentiation is unclear. The loss of the monument would significantly diminish our future ability to attempt to answer these questions, and our ability to appreciate and understand the Picts and their impact and influence in Early Medieval Scotland.
Source: Historic Environment Scotland
Bibliography
Historic Environment Scotland https://canmore.org.uk/ CANMORE ID 14743
Highland HER reference MHG8649
Henderson and Henderson, G and I, (2004). The Art of the Picts: Sculpture and Metalwork in Early Medieval Scotland. London: Thames and Hudson Ltd. Page(s): 73.
Fraser, I (ed.), (2008). The Pictish Symbol Stones of Scotland. Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland, Edinburgh
Canmore
https://canmore.org.uk/site/14743/
HER/SMR Reference
Highland Council MHG8649
Source: Historic Environment Scotland
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