Moray HER - NJ16NW0111 - SOUTH QUAY, BURGHEAD

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Main Details

Primary ReferenceNJ16NW0111
NameSOUTH QUAY, BURGHEAD
NRHE Card No.NJ16NW5
NRHE Numlink 319201
HES SM No. NULL
HES LB No. NULL
Site Form Artefact
Site Condition Incomplete
Details Approximate findspot of three stones decorated with carved bull motifs. Antiquarian records note three of six surviving 'Burghead Bulls' were found during works to the South Quay of Burghead harbour (NJ16NW0039). Using the numbering from J. Romilly Allen and J. Anderson’s Early Christian Monuments of Scotland (1903): ECMS 2 (NRHE NJ16NW5.02 / numlink 319202) described as having been found in 1862 in the course of improvements to the South quay at Burghead, in ground 'that had evidently been made up with materials carried from the old ramparts'. The head of the bull was damaged by the hammer of the labourer who found it. The rubbish in which it lay 'had been taken from the Baileys'. It is now in the care of Moray Museums Service, on display at Burghead Headland Trust Visitor Centre. ECMS 4 (NRHE NJ16NW5.04 / numlink 319204) described as having been found during in the wall of a house being demolished at the South quay in 1867, this fragment is now in the care of Moray Museums Service, on display at Burghead Headland Trust Visitor Centre. ECMS 6 (NRHE NJ16NW5.06 / numlink 319206) described as having been found in 1884 (or 1854) during alterations to the South quay, now in Elgin Museum. See also NJ16NW0005. These stones are likely to have come from the ramparts of the Pictish fort: Young (1891) notes that about 1818 material from the ramparts was used to fill up small bay 'where the present herring-curing stations now stand...... thus was the rubbish disposed of, while the good stones were picked out to make the harbour, and how many inscribed and incised stones are in these harbour piers may be left to sad conjecture'.
Last Update21/06/2024
Updated Bycherbert
CompilerCH
Date of Compilation17/04/2023

Google Map for NJ16NW0111

National Grid Reference: NJ 1091 6898



Event Details


Excavations and Surveys


Artefact and Ecofact

Date MDate YArtefact TypeFinderRecovery MethodConditionStorage LocationAccess No.
 1884 BURGHEAD BULL UNK Stray Find Complete - Good Condition Elgin Museum ELGNM 1886.1
 1862 BURGHEAD BULL UNK Stray Find Fragmentary - Stable Moray Museum Service MORM 1896-6b
 1867 BURGHEAD BULL UNK Stray Find Complete - Good Condition Moray Museum Service MORM 1896.6a

Ecofact

Samples
Palynology
Ecofact Notes

Monument Types

Monument Type 1Monument Type 2Monument Type 3OrderProbability
STONES PICTISHA100
STONES PICTISH IB100
SYMBOLS BULLC100