Aberlemno Sculptured Stones
Important notice
Aberlemno III is currently undergoing conservation work in Edinburgh after it fell during a storm earlier this year. Find out more about its conservation on our YouTube channel
The southern roadside stone (Aberlemno IV)
This unshaped boulder is highly eroded, but it may bear the traces of a curving symbol. Its function is unclear, but it may be associated with the nearby Finavon fort, which could have been the residence of a Pictish chieftan.
The northern roadside stone (Aberlemno I)
Judging from the prehistoric cup marks on its back, this stone (Aberlemno I) is probably a prehistoric standing stone reused by the Picts. It bears three of the distinctive symbols commonly found on Pictish symbol stones: a serpent, a double-disc and z-rod, a mirror and comb.
The roadside cross-slab (Aberlemno III)
The cross-slab is an extraordinary monument. It’s carved on all sides, featuring a cross with worshipping angels and two ornate Pictish symbols. Depictions of a hunting scene and the biblical king David fighting a lion can also be made out.
The Pictish symbols demonstrate a continuity with the two earlier stones along the road, though the introduction of Christian imagery shows the impact of Christianity’s arrival. The biblical iconography would have conveyed specific messages to the people who saw it.
The churchyard cross-slab
This is a magnificent piece of sculpture, considered one of the finest surviving examples of Pictish carving.
On one side it features a fine cross with elaborate interlace decoration on a backdrop of interlaced animals. The side of the stone facing the church depicts a battle.
This scene may commemorate the Battle of Nechtansmere, which was once thought to have taken place near Dunnichen, 10km south of Aberlemno, in AD 685. King Ecgfrith of Northumbria was killed in this battle, ending the Anglian occupation of Pictish territory. The location of the battle is now debated and may actually have taken place much further north.
Discover more on trove.scot
See archive photographs of Aberlemno Sculptured Stones, plus archaeology notes and more on trove.scot.
Protecting the stones
Each Autumn, a HES team heads to Aberlemno for a simple yet effective conservation ritual.
The ancient stones are vulnerable to frost damage and Scotland's cold winter conditions, so they’re covered with wooden boxes from the last working day of September until the first working day of April. Interpretation panels on the boxes keep visitors in the loop while the stones stay warm and safe!
In March 2025, Aberlemno III and its box fell over, probably due to exceptionally strong winds. After building a new box and assessing the condition of the stone, our experts carefully removed it for further conservation works in Edinburgh.
Our work will include a condition check, digital documentation, archaeological excavation and scientific analysis. All of this will help us determine what the next steps will be to return the stone home and care for it in future, as well as telling us even more about its history.
Statements of Significance
You can find out more about the Aberlemno Sculptured Stones in our Statements of Significance, part of a series of special documents outlining the history and development of Historic Scotland sites.
