Alternative Names Loaninghead; Blackford
Site type PICTISH SYMBOL STONE (PICTISH), STANDING STONE
Canmore ID 25924
Site Number NN90NW 3
NGR NN 9243 0980
Council PERTH AND KINROSS
Parish BLACKFORD
Former Region TAYSIDE
Former District PERTH AND KINROSS
Former County PERTHSHIRE

Canmore Mapping
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Archaeological Notes

NN90NW 3 9243 0980 and 9211 0962

'A' (NN 9211 0962) Standing Stone (NAT)
'B' (NN 9243 0980) Standing Stone (NAT)
OS 6" map, (1959)

('A') Standing stone, somewhat cylindrical in form and tilted towards the west, 3ft 10ins high. Similar to 'B' but has no artificial markings.
('B') Two symbols have been incised on the north side of what was very probably a pre-existing standing stone.
Assigned to Allen and Anderson (1903) Class I of Symbol Stones - the earliest type and presumably pre-Christian.
C S T Calder 1949.

These stones are generally as described by Calder.
Visited by OS (W D J) 21 June 1967.

The western of the two stones at Peterhead, which for many years had leaned to the SW, fell over in 1990. The stone was re-erected by the farmer and the HBM (HS) Area Inspector, the socket having been examined and found to be ill-defined and empty of artefacts or bone.
Sponsor: Historic Buildings and Monuments (HS).
G J Barclay 1990.

Class I symbol stone.On the NNE face are a goose over a rectangle.
A Mack 1997

(Index no. 4061; location cited as NN 921 096). Scheduled as 'Peterhead, standing stone 350m NNW of...'
Information from Historic Scotland, scheduling document dated 30 March 2009.

Notes and Activities

12 August 2008 to 16 August 2008

GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY

Notes NN 9243 0980 As part of continuing research on the archaeological context of early historic Scottish carved stone monuments a resistivity survey was undertaken focusing on the monument known as the Peterhead Farm (Blackford) Class I symbol stone (NN90NW 3) and including part of an enclosure within the same field (NN90NW 26, NGR NN 9242 0975). Both areas are SAMs and permission was granted by Historic Scotland and the Gleneagles Trust for the survey. Work was conducted over a period of five days, 12–16 August 2008, and provided a training opportunity for SERF field school students.
The results highlighted known features such as the nearby circular enclosure visible on APs and previously unknown sites such as a small circular feature, possibly a building, a possible cairn around the symbol stone and potential Pictish type square burial monuments. A small test trench across the wall of the possible circular building confirmed its existence, but the feature was heavily truncated and provided no secure
dating evidence.
Report: Perth & Kinross Heritage Trust and Historic Scotland
Funder: Support was received from the University of Chester and the University of Glasgow
Meggen Gondek (University of Chester and University of Glasgow) - In association with SERF, 2008

Further details

Books and References

Barclay, G J (1990a) 'Peterhead (Blackford parish), standing stone', Discovery Excav Scot
Page(s): 44

Calder, C S T (1949c) 'Notice of two standing stones(one with Pictish symbols) on the lands of Peterhead Farm, near Gleneagles, Perthshire', Proc Soc Antiq Scot, vol.81
Page(s): 1-7 map, illust. Held at RCAHMS E.11.1.CAL.P

Feachem, R W (1977) Guide to prehistoric Scotland, London
Page(s): 198 Held at RCAHMS E.2.FEA

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