大象传媒 Scotland - 大象传媒 Scotland - The mysterious ancient people who left behind incredible art

The mysterious ancient people who left behind incredible art

4 December 2018

In a churchyard in Angus, on Scotland’s east coast, there is a beautiful artwork featuring a detailed depiction of a stag, a hunter and his dogs.

But this countryside scene has not been committed to canvas; instead it is intricately carved into a stone slab — and, incredibly, it dates from the Iron Age.

The images found on the Eassie Cross Slab were created by the Picts, an ancient people found in the north and east of Scotland.

Detail of a spear-carrying man on the Eassie Cross Slab

A glimpse into an ancient way of life

There are no written records of Pictish activity, but there are numerous examples of their artistic endeavours on ancient standing stones across the country.

The carvings, which have weathered the elements for more than 1000 years, depict symbols such as salmon, ravens, wolves, boars and battle scenes — and provide an insight into the everyday lives of our little-known ancient ancestors.

Detail of a mysterious winged figure on Eassie Cross Slab

Stone carver David McGovern is breathing new life into ancient Pictish art.

He recently carved a two-tonne, nine foot new stone commemorating Kenneth MacAlpin, the founder of the MacAlpin dynasty of Scottish and Pictish kings.

Now standing proud in Perthshire, it is the first Pictish-style stone to be placed in a landscape for over 1000 years.