The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Village’s vital historic importance is celebrated with all-new Pictish stone
Place was a major centre
A Perthshire village’s historic importance is being celebrated with the first newly-designed Pictish stone to be carved in the landscape for 1,000 years.
Sculpted by David McGovern of Monikie Rock Art and standing in the centre of Forteviot, the stone recognises the area’s important role in the birth of medieval Scotland.
Excavations by the Serf Project at Glasgow University have highlighted the village as a major Pictish royal centre from the mid-9th Century, after it first became important as a regional ceremonial centre from the 8th Century.
At its peak, Forteviot was the seat of Cinaed mac Ailpin (Kenneth, son of Alpin), whose descendants ruled Scotland until the 11th Century.
Southern Pictland – today’s Angus, Fife and Perthshire – was the core of the Pictish kingdom, which was to become the medieval kingdom of the Scots.
The Picts are well known for their artwork on large monumental sculptures, many of which, such as the Dupplin or Invermay Cross, are interpreted as commemorative territorial markers for the royal centre at Forteviot.
Behind the new stone, which will be officially dedicated on March 17 at noon, is the Tay Landscape Partnership, a Heritage Lottery-Funded scheme led by Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust.
Trust director David Strachan explained: “This new stone and conserved original fragments within the parish church are a permanent marker indicating the importance of the site.”
Mr McGovern took his inspiration from the local sculptures of the area and motifs from Iona.
More than 30 local residents took part in stone carving workshops and around 100 hours of training were also provided for an apprentice working on the stone.
Sophie Nicol, historic environment officer for the partnership, added: “The community at Forteviot has embraced and taken ownership of its new stone.”