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Lasers conserve Pictish treasures

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Thann Lowery
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« on: February 15, 2008, 02:27:43 am »

Lasers conserve Pictish treasures 


 
The Pictish carved stones date from the decades before 843 AD
High-tech laser technology has been used to record and conserve one of the finest collections of Pictish carved stones in Scotland.
The St Vigeans Stones from Arbroath are being cleaned by a specialist team of Historic Scotland experts in Edinburgh.

Earlier efforts at conservation, dating back to the 1960s, carried out using the best techniques of the time have now reached the end of their life.

The project removes the earlier repairs and uses more modern treatments.

The project is part of works to upgrade St Vigeans Museum of Pictish Carved Stones in Arbroath.

It is hoped the stones will be returned by the end of this year with the new-look museum reopening in time for Easter 2009.

Fresh research into the 38 stones suggests St Vigeans was once home to an important royal monastery.

It has also cast fresh light on the religious beliefs of the Picts, to fill gaps in understanding of their culture and ideas.

Stephen Gordon, Historic Scotland senior conservator, said: "The improvements to the museum gave us an excellent opportunity to bring the stones to Edinburgh, where we have the specialist staff and equipment to undertake some thorough conservation treatment and prepare new mounts.

"This has included using special laser techniques that are superb for removing dirt, or other unwanted materials, without affecting the stones themselves.



 
St Vigeans Museum of Pictish Carved Stones reopens in 2009

"Earlier efforts at conservation, dating back to the 1960s, have now reached the end of their life.

"This project gives us the opportunity to remove these earlier repairs and use more modern and appropriate treatments and mounting methods."

The collection includes the Drosten Stone, a cross slab with ornate cross and fantastic beasts, plus a rare Latin and Pictish inscription which might have commemorated King Uoret who died around 842 AD.

The stones date from the decades before 843 AD when the Pictish kingdom was united with Gaelic Dalriada under a single monarch, leading to the birth of Scotland.

Peter Yeoman, Historic Scotland senior archaeologist, said: "The stones are among the last and very finest expressions of Pictish art, which makes them tremendously important.

"These large stone crosses would originally have been set up as monuments, boundary markers and gravestones on the church hill at St Vigeans.

"We have known for some time that the area was an important royal centre, but the latest thinking is that the high quality carvings, with scriptural images, indicate that there was not just a church but an important monastery under royal patronage at St Vigeans.

"It may also have been a significant pilgrimage centre, perhaps due to the presence of relics of the Irish St Fechin, from who the village took its name."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7244622.stm
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Thann Lowery
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« Reply #1 on: February 15, 2008, 02:30:49 am »

Walk and debate on Pictish battle 
 


The old church at Edderton, Easter Ross, has traces of the Picts
History enthusiasts are to debate whether a corner of Easter Ross is the site of an ancient battle.
Reay Clarke believes Carrie Blair near Edderton was the backdrop for a clash between Picts and Vikings.

He said Pictish stones - including one with two armed horsemen carved on it - were evidence of a battle.

Mr Clarke will lead a walk around Edderton as part of Highland Council's Archaeology Fortnight which runs from 30 September to 15 October.

A programme of events have been arranged in Caithness, Sutherland, Ross and Cromarty, Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, Skye and Lochalsh and Lochaber.

"That stone is telling us something."

Reay Clarke
Local historian


They include talks about the Romans, Iron and Bronze ages and council ranger-led walks.

Mr Clarke, 83, was asked to become involved in the fortnight a number of years ago and has written book about his belief that Carrie Blair was the scene of a battle.

He said: "In Edderton there is an old church and in the graveyard a Pictish cross slab with a horseman and crosses on each side and two armed horsemen below.

"That stone is telling us something. It was carefully sculpted and someone was sent out to cut the stone from a quarry."

The area has other standing stones, including a stone circle solar calendar, and the sites of Pictish forts, said Mr Clarke.

His guided walk on 4 October, The Picts that were in Edderton, features a visit to the graveyard where people can argue about his battlefield theory.

Other events during the fortnight include talks about fossils, the Romans and a look at 6,000 years of history at Rosemarkie caves.
 
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/highlands_and_islands/5349212.stm
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« Reply #2 on: February 21, 2008, 10:26:57 pm »

ST VIGEANS PICTISH STONES CONSERVED WITH LASER TECHNOLOGY
By Caroline Lewis 15/02/2008



 
 New research on the stones suggests that St Vigeans was an important monastic site. Courtesy Historic Scotland
 
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« Reply #3 on: February 21, 2008, 10:27:37 pm »

Pictish treasures from a village in Angus are being treated with the latest laser technology to record and conserve them.
 
The carved stones, which date back to the decades before the nation of Scotland was born in the 9th century, depict ornate Christian crosses and fantastic beasts and bear both Latin and Pictish writing (the latter now indecipherable).

Further study of the stones, from St Vigeans near Arbroath, are being carried out while the village’s museum undergoes a major upgrade. It’s an excellent opportunity to clean them and let experts have a fresh look at the 38 stones and fragments in Edinburgh, explained Stephen Gordon, Historic Scotland senior conservator.

“This included using special laser techniques that are superb for removing dirt, or other unwanted materials, without affecting the stones themselves. These works are painstaking, but ultimately very satisfying.”
 
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« Reply #4 on: February 21, 2008, 10:28:23 pm »



The Picts were known for their mysterious and rich language of symbols, and their name comes from the Latin for 'painted people'. Courtesy Historic Scotland
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« Reply #5 on: February 21, 2008, 10:29:13 pm »

The new research strongly suggests that the small village of St Vigeans was once home to an important royal monastery, and has also cast new light on the religious beliefs of the Picts.

The stones are a great early Christian treasure of Angus. They include the Drosten Stone, a cross slab with ornate cross and fantastic beasts, plus a rare Latin and Pictish inscription which might have commemorated King Uoret who died around 842AD. In 843AD, the Pictish kingdom was united with Gaelic Dalriada under a single monarch – leading to the birth of Scotland.
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« Reply #6 on: February 21, 2008, 10:30:18 pm »



The Picts were Christian converts, with their own saints such as Drostan appearing to have a wide following. Courtesy Historic Scotland
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« Reply #7 on: February 21, 2008, 10:30:42 pm »

“The stones are among the last and very finest expressions of Pictish art, which makes them tremendously important,” said Peter Yeoman, Historic Scotland senior archaeologist.

“These large stone crosses would originally have been set up as monuments, boundary markers and gravestones on the church hill at St Vigeans. We have known for some time the area was an important royal centre, but the latest thinking is that the high-quality carvings, with scriptural images, indicate that there was not just a church but an important monastery under royal patronage at St Vigeans.”

“It may also have been a significant pilgrimage centre, perhaps due to the presence of relics of the Irish St Fechin, from who the village took its name,” added Peter.

Back in the 9th century Arbroath was a small port serving the needs of the more important settlement at St Vigeans.
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« Reply #8 on: February 21, 2008, 10:31:18 pm »



The museum at St Vigeans will provide much better access for visitors from 2009. Courtesy Historic Scotland
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« Reply #9 on: February 21, 2008, 10:31:54 pm »

The human detail in the carvings, telling us about how the Picts lived, also make the collection special. There are rare details like St Paul (not the apostle) and St Antony breaking bread in the desert. Both saints were Desert Fathers who sought a life of purity and worship away from the sinfulness and temptation of ordinary society.

The ideals and practices of these saints were brought from Egypt to Ireland where they had a profound effect on early monasticism. These ideas were then brought to what we now know as Scotland by Irish monks who came to convert the Picts.

It is hoped the stones will be returned by the end of this year with the new-look museum re-opening in time for Easter 2009.

“It’s great to have the chance to modernise the museum so visitors can get the most from the collection,” said Graeme Bell, Historic Scotland district architect. “The refurbishment will provide more space and mean that people can move round the stones and look at them from every angle.”

In contrast to the museum before the upgrade, when keys to it had to be collected from Arbroath Abbey before visiting, a member of staff will always be on hand at the museum in future.
 
 
St Vigeans Sculptured Stones
  Kirkstyle, St.Vigeans, Arbroath, Angus, Scotland
T: 01241 878756
Open: St Vigeans Museum of Pictish Carved Stones is temporarily closed. We are currently working to conserve the stones and are making plans to re-display the museum. The project aims to better care for the carved stones and to increase visitors’ enjoyment and understanding of the collection. The museum will re-open in 2009. In the meantime, you may wish to visit Meigle Museum of Sculptured Stones, or other carved stones, also in the care of Historic Scotland. Please call 0131 668 8600 for more information.

 
 
 
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Information published here was believed to be correct at the time it was prepared. Welsh language pages developed with CYMAL: Museums Archives and Libraries Wales, funded by the Welsh Assembly Government.
 
 
 http://www.24hourmuseum.org.uk/nwh_gfx_en/ART54297.html
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