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Brandsbutt Stone

The Brandsbutt Stone
The Brandsbutt Stone, showing detail of ogham script
MaterialWhinstone
Height1.07 metres (3.5 ft)
WritingOgham script:
irataddoarens
Symbols
  • Crescent and v-rod
  • Serpent and z-rod
Present locationInverurie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Coordinates57°17′30″N 2°24′00″W / 57.2916°N 2.4000°W / 57.2916; -2.4000
ClassificationClass I incised stone
CulturePictish

The Brandsbutt Stone is a class I Pictish symbol stone in Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Description

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A large block of whinstone, 1.07 metres (3.5 ft) high, 1.27 metres (4.2 ft) wide and 0.91 metres (3.0 ft) deep, the stone had been broken up and used in building a dry stone wall before 1866.[1] The stone, now reassembled, bears two incised Pictish symbols, a crescent and v-rod and a serpent and z-rod, and an inscription in Ogham, IRATADDOARENS.[2] The carvings of the Brandsbutt Stone are dated to around AD 600.[3] It is a scheduled monument.[4]

Inscription

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Archaeological photograph of 1903
Transliteration of Ogham

The inscription borne by the Brandsbutt Stone, IRATADDOARENS, has been described by Katherine Forsyth as appearing to be "utterly baffling".[5] However, a handful of interpretations have been offered.[5][2] Suggestions include the possibility that it may contain a corrupted version of the personal name Ethernan.[6][2] If this is the case, it is likely to refer to the 7th century saint Ethernan about whom little is known but who was apparently venerated by the Picts. He is referred to in an entry from the Annals of Ulster from 669 AD as having been killed by the Picts along with Corindu. It is thought that these names may be P-Celtic and therefore Pictish in origin.[7]

Other examples of the name Ethernan being preserved on Pictish stones include, in Ogham, The Newton Stone (IDDARRNNN), Rodney's Stone (EDDARRNON) and The Scoonie Stone (EDDARRNONN), and, in Latin script, The Fordoun Stone (PIDARNOIN).

The ira- may be a Pictish verb cognate with Breton irha meaning "he lies".[5] However, the existence of this verb is doubtful, according to Rodway.[8]

Thomas Clancy proposed that the text represents the Gaelic phrase i rath Aduarén s- meaning "this is the property of Aduarén here".[8]

References

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  1. ^ Fraser, Iain (2008), The Pictish Symbol Stones of Scotland, Edinburgh: Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historic Monuments of Scotland, pp. 62–63
  2. ^ a b c "Brandsbutt Symbol Stone - Historic Environment Scotland". Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  3. ^ Dating of the Brandsbutt Stone
  4. ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Brandsbutt Stone, symbol stone (SM90039)". Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  5. ^ a b c Forsyth, Katherine (1997). Language in Pictland – the case against 'non-Indo-European Pictish' (PDF). De Keltiche Draak. p. 36. ISBN 9789080278554. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  6. ^ Mack, Alastair L. (1997), Field Guide to the Pictish Symbol Stones, Balgavies: The Pinkfoot Press
  7. ^ Clancy, Thomas Owen (2008). "Deer and the early church in North-Eastern Scotland". In Forsyth, Katherine (ed.). Studies on the Book of Deer. pp. 375–77.
  8. ^ a b Rodway, Simon. The Ogham Inscriptions of Scotland and Brittonic Pictish.
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