Aberdeenshire HER - NO39NE0016 - TULLICH PICTISH STONES, TULLICH CHURCHYARD

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Main Details

Primary ReferenceNO39NE0016
NameTULLICH PICTISH STONES, TULLICH CHURCHYARD
NRHE Card No.NO39NE2
NRHE Numlink 229637
HES SM No. 86
HES LB No. NULL
Site Form Artefact
Site Condition Complete 2
Details Twenty eight carved stones and a stone font, found within and around Tullich church (NO39NE0002) over the years, now in a shelter just outside the churchyard. Ten of these were discovered in 2019 during consolidation works to the church building. Fifteen of the Tullich stones and the font are displayed in a purpose built display space to the east of the church. Two stones, found in 2013 (NO39NE0113), are in the Aberdeenshire Council Museum's collection (allocated through Treasure Trove) and are on display in Ballater Station. Four of the 'new' stones remain in situ in the church, the remaining six having been removed for conservation and future display. They comprise: one large baptismal font (roughly circular in plan, carved from pink coloured granite); 17 cross-slabs (early Christian grave markers); four monoliths with various incised features (one is a Pictish symbol stone, NO39NE0015, and the other three are cross-incised); and five fragments of a more ornate carved stone unlike any others previously discovered at this site (two fragments are joining and considered as a single stone). All of these stones date to the early Christian activity on this site. The stones are: Tullich 1 (NBSC2) (NO39NE0015), a Class I Pictish symbol stone. A monolith of andalusite staurolite schist, measuring 1.76 x 0.49 x 0.15 m, with incised symbols of double-disc and Z-rod, Pictish beast and mirror. Tullich 2 (NBSC3) a coarse grained granite monolith measuring 1.55 x 0.44 x 0.25 m, with an incised outline Latin cross with hollow angles. Tullich 3 (NBSC 11) a coarse pink granite stone, measuring 375 x 220 x 70-95 mm, incised with a Latin cross. Tullich 4 (NBSC 9) a pale pink granite stone, 540 x 320 x 90-180 mm, incised with an outline Latin cross with hollow armpits; all the arms lack a terminal line. Tullich 5 (NBSC 16) a granite stone measuring 330 x 280 x 190-200 mm, incised with an equal armed outline cross, with circular armpits, within a plain double ringed circle. Tullich 6 (NBSC 5 and 6) an oblong stone of finely laminated metamorphosed siltstone/sandstone, measuring 550 x 210 x 65-75 mm, incised with an equal armed cross within a double circle. Tullich 7 (NBSC 4) a large rectangular granite monolith measuring 1.72 x 0.43 x 0.21-0.24 m, incised with an outline Latin cross, the lower and lateral arms incomplete. Tullich 8 (NBSC 8) a rectangular stone of granite, measuring 600 x 330 x 80-100 mm, incised with an equal arm outline cross, none of the arms with a terminal line. Tullich 9 (NBSC 14) a granite stone, incised with an irregular outline Latin cross with rounded terminals to the arms. Tullich 10 (NBSC 7) a granite stone measuring 210 x 245 x 55-60 mm, with an incised outline Latin cross. Tullich 11 (NBSC 12) a granite stone measuring 320 x 215 x 60-70 mm, carved with the lower arm of an outline Latin cross. Tullich 12 (NBSC 13) a granite slab measuring 360 x 260 x 45-60 mm, with incised outline cross. Tullich 13 (NBSC 15) a pink granite stone measuring 430 x 410 x 60-90 mm, incised with an equal armed outline cross of skeuomorphic design. Tullich 14 (NBSC 10) a granite stone measuring 325 x 300 x 55-70 mm, with an incised irregular outline cross with what appears to be two attempts to design the upper arm, an inner line carved more lightly than the outer. Tullich 15 (NBSC 1) a garnet mica schist monolith measuring 1.52 x 0.36 x 0.06-0.08 m, incised with a number of small equal armed crosses. Two more cross slabs were found during excavations by MAS in 2013 (NO39NE0113) in advance of proposed cemetery extension, subsequently numbered Tullich 16 and 17 (now on display in Ballater Station). Tullich 16, of pink granite, measuring 430 x 240 x 100 mm, decorated with an outline Greek cross with arms opening into a ring, an incised circle in the centre of the cross and a circle within the sunken triangle within each quadrant. Tullich 17, a coarse grey granite stone, measuring 400 x 200 x 140 mm, with an outline Latin cross, with an irregular ring. During consolation works to the church in 2019, a further 10 carved stones were found, and numbered following on the Tullich sequence. Tullich 18 is a granite stone incised with a cross. It forms a small lintel over a put log hole in the outer face of the west gable of the church, the carving being on the underside of the stone. It remains in situ and visible to visitors. Tullich 19 forms a lintel above a window in the south wall of the church. It appears to be a garnet mica schist stones with small equal armed crosses incised on its face (on the underside), comparable with Tullich 15. It remains in situ and visible to visitors. Tullich 20 forms a lintel above a door in the south wall of the church. Like T19 and T15, it appears to be a garnet mica schist stones with small equal armed crosses incised on its face (on the underside). It also remains in site and visible to visitors. Tullich 21 is a granite stone incised with a cross. The cross has notched detail at the armpits. It was found in the north wall, and has been removed for conservation and future display. Tullich 22, 23, 24 25a and 25b are small fragments of red sandstone which were all found within the core of the north wall. Fragments 25a and 25b join (hence having the same number). They are ornately carved in a style quite unlike anything noted previously at Tullich. They have been removed from site for conservation and future display. Tullich 26 is granite stone inscribed with a large cross. It was found on the wallhead of the north wall of the church, and has been removed from site for conservation and future display. Tullich 27 is a granite stone with incised cross which is located on the inner face of the north wall at its junction with the east gable. The stone remains in situ and visible to visitors. Tullich 28 was discovered within the graveyard in October 2022. It is a sandstone fragment carved with a seated rider on a horse. T28 is currently off site awaiting conservation.
Last Update20/12/2023
Updated Bycherbert
Compiler 
Date of Compilation03/07/1991

Google Map for NO39NE0016

National Grid Reference: NO 3908 9754



Event Details

Event DateEvent TypeOASIS ID
2006 Survey

Excavations and Surveys


Artefact and Ecofact

Date MDate YArtefact TypeFinderRecovery MethodConditionStorage LocationAccess No.
 2013 TWO CROSS SLABS MAS Excavation Complete - Good Condition Other 2015.037.1-3

Ecofact

Samples
Palynology
Ecofact Notes

Monument Types

Monument Type 1Monument Type 2Monument Type 3OrderProbability
CROSS-SLABS  A100
CROSSES INCISEDB100
FONTS BAPTISMALC100
STONES INCISEDE100
STONES PICTISH ID100