Early medieval sculpture in the West Highlands and Islands of Scotland
This thesis places the early medieval sculpture of the West Highlands and Islands, which has previously been studied primarily in relation to either Pictish or Irish sculpture, in its own cultural context. The region is separated from the rest of Scotland by the watershed of Druimalban (the ~Spine of Britain~) and formed a distinctive cultural area between the late sixth and the twelfth century. Four major categories of sculpture are discussed: Pictish symbol stones, cross-marked and cruciform stones, the sculptured stone crosses of the Iona School, and monuments carved after the devastating Viking attack on Iona in 806. A review of place-name, archaeological and historical evidence establishes the existence of a Pictish province west of Druimalban, which was lost to the Gaelic kingdom of Dal Riata at the end of the seventh century. Typological examination dates the western Pictish symbol stones to the period when control of the Pictish western province passed to Dal Riata. The lateness of the western symbol stones is used to argue for an emergence date of c. 600 for the symbol stone series east of Druimalban. The establishment of the kingdom of Dal Riata provides the background for the introduction of Christianity
MacLean, Douglas Grant
Archaeology
Early medieval sculpture in the West Highlands and Islands of Scotland. This thesis places the early medieval sculpture of the West Highlands and Islands, which has previously been studied primarily in relation to either Pictish or Irish sculpture, in its own cultural context. The region is separated from the rest of Scotland by the watershed of Druimalban (the ~Spine of Britain~) and formed a distinctive cultural area between the late sixth and the twelfth century. Four major categories of sculpture are discussed: Pictish symbol stones, cross-marked and cruciform stones, the sculptured stone crosses of the Iona School, and monuments carved after the devastating Viking attack on Iona in 806. A review of place-name, archaeological and historical evidence establishes the existence of a Pictish province west of Druimalban, which was lost to the Gaelic kingdom of Dal Riata at the end of the seventh century. Typological examination dates the western Pictish symbol stones to the period when control of the Pictish western province passed to Dal Riata. The lateness of the western symbol stones is used to argue for an emergence date of c. 600 for the symbol stone series east of Druimalban. The establishment of the kingdom of Dal Riata provides the background for the introduction of Christianity
early_medieval sculpture west highlands islands scotland place early_medieval sculpture west highlands islands previously_study primarily relation either pictish irish sculpture cultural_context region separate rest scotland watershed britain form distinctive cultural area four_major category sculpture discuss pictish symbol stone cross marked stone_sculpture stone cross school monument carve devastate viking attack review place_name archaeological_historical evidence establishes existence pictish province west lose gaelic kingdom typological examination date western pictish symbol stone period control pictish western_province pass western symbol stone use argue emergence date symbol stone series east establishment kingdom provide_background introduction christianity