Aberlemno Stone

 Battle of Dunnichen

This piece is a follow-up to King Bidei


The Picts have left a unique record of the battle in the form of a magnificent piece of sculpture.


 The so-called Battle Stone in Aberlemno kirkyard - about four miles north of Dunnichen-is a Pictish stone, 2.3 metres high. It has a cross in heavy relief on one side and Pictish symbols on the other, above a vivid portrayal of warriors in battle.



There are several good reasons for thinking that the scenes on the Aberlemno Stone depict the Battle of Dunnichen.

Experts date it to the early 8th century, within a few decades of the event. It is not far from the site of the battle. And one set of warriors on the stone is wearing helmets with long nose-guards of a type known to have existed among the Anglo-Saxons.

It is a remarkable record of the battle, showing superb details of weapons and methods of fighting – the Pictish equivalent of the Bayeux Tapestry.

The Aberlemno Battle Stone has four separate images from the battle.

At the top, two mounted, high-status, warriors are depicted. A bareheaded Pictish warrior chases a helmeted Northumbrian, who has dropped or thrown away his sword and shield, which are clearly shown behind him, emphasising the swiftness, and ignominy, of his flight. The scene below this shows three Pictish foot-soldiers, with swords, shields and spears, confronting a mounted Northumbrian.



Below that, two mounted warriors confront each other. The fourth scene is the simplest, and most dramatic of all. In the lower right-hand corner of the
stone is the dead body of a Northumbrian, in helmet and mail tunic, his shield at his side, with a carrion bird, perhaps a raven, pecking at his head.



This figure sums up the fate of the Northumbrians, and may well be King Egfrith himself. In fact, the mounted Northumbrian warrior shown in the two scenes above and below the dead body may also represent Egfrith.

The details on the stone also give us a clue as to how the Picts fought. The frontman has his shield raised, and his sword lifted, ready to slash.

The man behind grasps his spear with both hands so that he is covering the man in front. His shield is hanging from his shoulder, attached by straps which are depicted as two thin lines.

The third warrior stands at the back with his spear pointing upwards, at rest until needed.



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