Alternative Names Cro Stone; Crow Stone; Mains Of Rhynie; Rhynie No. 1
Site type PICTISH SYMBOL STONE (PICTISH)
Canmore ID 17199
Site Number NJ42NE 35
NGR NJ 49749 26345
Council ABERDEENSHIRE
Parish RHYNIE
Former Region GRAMPIAN
Former District GORDON
Former County ABERDEENSHIRE

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Archaeological Notes

NJ42NE 35 49749 26345

(NJ 4971 2634) Craw Stane (NR) (Sculptured)
OS 6" map, Aberdeenshire, 2nd ed., (1902).

See also NJ42NE 30 and NJ42NE 54.

The Craw, Cro or Crow Stane is a block of grey granite, 5'7" high, 3' wide and 1'6" thick, with the symbols of a fish and elephant.
J R Allen and Anderson J 1903; J Stuart 1856.

Notes and Activities

5 October 1967

FIELD VISIT

Notes The Craw Stane as described and illustrated.
Visited by OS (NKB) 5 October 1967.

Further details

18 October 1977

FIELD VISIT

Notes This sculptured stone is situated on a S-facing slope just below the crest of a hill in a pasture field at an altitude of 210m OD. It has been concreted around the base. The symbols are grooved, pecked and still very clear, while a vegetation mark indicates the possible former presence of a cairn about 0.7m above the base.
Visited by GRC/AAS, 18 October 1977.
NMRS, MS/712/47.

Further details

20 September 1996

FIELD VISIT

Notes The Craw Stane stands in an arable field, just below the crest of a low hill which overlooks the valley of the Water of Bogie to the E. It is a roughly rectangular block of grey granite, measuring 0.9m in breadth by 0.4m in thickness at ground level and 1.85m in height, set in a concrete base. Its SW face bears the incised figure of a fish and, immediately below it, a Pictish beast.
Visited by RCAHMS (IF, ARG), 20 September 1996.

Further details

1997

REFERENCE

Notes Class I symbol stone, Rhynie 1. On the S face is a salmon above an elephant .
A Mack 1997.

Further details

June 2005

RESISTIVITY

Notes NJ 4974 2634 (centre) A magnetometer survey of the area surrounding the Craw Stane was undertaken in June 2005 as part of the Rhynie Environs Archaeological Project. The survey covered the Scheduled area of the Craw Stane and a series of surrounding enclosures.
The survey clarified the nature of the three enclosures identified by aerial photographs around the Craw Stane, two of which are probably ditched, while the other is palisaded, enclosing a total area of c 60 x 50m. The ditched enclosures appear to have entrances to the E. The Craw Stane lies between the two ditches at the southern side of the entrance area. A series of features was also identified within these enclosures.
Two large sub-circular anomalies were also detected, 60m to the N and 90m to the NE of the Craw Stane; these produced very high readings. Surrounding these are possible traces of a large rectangular enclosure (c 50 x 90m), aligned NE¿SW, which encloses the area of the two sub-circular anomalies. One of the sub-circular anomalies was targeted for excavation.
Additional grids adjacent to the cemetery of the old parish church showed a linear anomaly to the W of the churchyard.
Report lodged with Aberdeenshire SMR and NMRS.
Sponsors: Rosemary Cramp Fund, University of Durham, Carnegie
Trust for the Universities of Scotland.


Further details

6 November 2006 to 11 November 2006

RESISTIVITY

Project Rhynie Environs Archaeological Project (REAP)

Notes NJ 4974 2634 A resistivity survey was undertaken from 6-11 November 2006 as part of the Rhynie Environs Archaeological Project (REAP). The survey covered the scheduled area of the Craw Stane and a series of surrounding enclosures (Barflat). The survey clarified the nature of the multiple enclosures around the Craw Stane and identified a further possible ditch with entrance on the southern edge of the complex. A series of features were also visible within these enclosures.
To the S of the Craw Stane enclosures, a strong circular feature c10m in diameter, with an internal feature and a possible entrance to the SE was identified. Linear features were also present (possibly field drains or boundaries), as well as other less well defined features.
Archive to be deposited with RCAHMS and reports with Aberdeenshire SMR.
Funder: The Society for Medieval Archaeology and The Hunter Trust with support from the University of Chester and the University of Glasgow.
Meggen Gondek and Gordon Noble, 2007.

Further details

Books and References

Allen and Anderson, J R and J (1903) The early Christian monuments of Scotland: a classified illustrated descriptive list of the monuments with an analysis of their symbolism and ornamentation, Edinburgh
Page(s): pt. 3, 182 fig. 197 Held at RCAHMS G.1.11.ALL

Gondek and Noble, M and G (2006) 'The Craw Stane / Barflat, Rhynie, Aberdeenshire (Peterhead parish), geophysical survey', Discovery Excav Scot, vol.7 Dorchester
Page(s): 21

Gondek and Noble, M and G (2007a) 'Rhynie Environs Archaeological Project - The Craw Stane/Barflat, Rhynie, Aberdeenshire (Rhynie parish), geophysical survey', Discovery Excav Scot, vol.8 Cathedral Communications Limited, Wiltshire, England.
Page(s): 28-29

Jackson, A (1984) The symbol stones of Scotland: a social anthropological resolution to the problem of the Picts, Kirkwall
Held at RCAHMS E.11.JAC

Logan, J (1829a) 'Observations on several monumental stones in the north of Scotland'. Archaeologia, vol.22
Page(s): 55 pl. V, fig. 2

Mack, A (1997) Field guide to the Pictish symbol stones, Balgavies, Angus
Page(s): 87 Held at RCAHMS E.11.MAC

RCAHMS (1994c) The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. Pictish symbol stones: a handlist 1994, Edinburgh
Page(s): 10, no. Rhynie 1 Held at RCAHMS A.1.6.PIC

Ritchie, J N G (1985) Pictish symbol stones: a handlist 1985, Edinburgh
Page(s): 8 Held at RCAHMS A.1.6.RIT

Roberts, Noble and Gondek, S, G and M (2005) 'The Craw Stane/Barflat, Rhynie (Rhynie parish), geophysical survey' Discovery Excav Scot, vol.6
Page(s): 18-19

Stuart, J (1856a) Sculptured stones of Scotland,, vol.1 Aberdeen
Page(s): 4 pl. 6 Held at RCAHMS D.4.L

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