“…On later stones, paired symbols appeared to be at locations comparable to those of the personal names on other stones, supporting the interpretation of them as highly stylized pictographs, perhaps commemorating ancestors (Carver 2005, 29). The associations of Class 1 symbol stones with graves might support this interpretation (Mack 1998, 9;Samson 1992;Thomas 1963).…”
Section: Discussion: Composite Monuments Symbol-stones and Monumentamentioning
confidence: 99%
“…These symbols have been described repeatedly as 'mysterious' and 'stubbornly undecipherable' (Hines 2003, 98) and unsurprisingly have attracted all manner of interpretations (e.g. Jackson 1984;Thomas 1963). Yet most writers would find it difficult to disagree with Charles Thomas's suggestion that they have a commemorative context despite the problems with precise interpretation (Thomas 1963;1984, 175).…”
Section: Discussion: Composite Monuments Symbol-stones and Monumentamentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Jackson 1984;Thomas 1963). Yet most writers would find it difficult to disagree with Charles Thomas's suggestion that they have a commemorative context despite the problems with precise interpretation (Thomas 1963;1984, 175). Moreover, Ross Samson (1992) and Kathryn Forsyth (1997) have developed a strong argument that the symbols formed part of a writing system akin to the ogham, Roman and runic scripts found elsewhere on early medieval stones.…”
Section: Discussion: Composite Monuments Symbol-stones and Monumentamentioning
This article develops recent interpretations of mortuary practices as contexts for producing social memory and personhood to argue that early medieval cairns and mounds served to commemorate concepts of gender and genealogy. Commemorative strategies are identified in the composite character, shape and location of cairns and in their relationship with other commemorative monuments, namely Class I symbol-stones. The argument is developed through a consideration of the excavations of early medieval cists and cairns at Lundin Links in Fife.
“…On later stones, paired symbols appeared to be at locations comparable to those of the personal names on other stones, supporting the interpretation of them as highly stylized pictographs, perhaps commemorating ancestors (Carver 2005, 29). The associations of Class 1 symbol stones with graves might support this interpretation (Mack 1998, 9;Samson 1992;Thomas 1963).…”
Section: Discussion: Composite Monuments Symbol-stones and Monumentamentioning
confidence: 99%
“…These symbols have been described repeatedly as 'mysterious' and 'stubbornly undecipherable' (Hines 2003, 98) and unsurprisingly have attracted all manner of interpretations (e.g. Jackson 1984;Thomas 1963). Yet most writers would find it difficult to disagree with Charles Thomas's suggestion that they have a commemorative context despite the problems with precise interpretation (Thomas 1963;1984, 175).…”
Section: Discussion: Composite Monuments Symbol-stones and Monumentamentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Jackson 1984;Thomas 1963). Yet most writers would find it difficult to disagree with Charles Thomas's suggestion that they have a commemorative context despite the problems with precise interpretation (Thomas 1963;1984, 175). Moreover, Ross Samson (1992) and Kathryn Forsyth (1997) have developed a strong argument that the symbols formed part of a writing system akin to the ogham, Roman and runic scripts found elsewhere on early medieval stones.…”
Section: Discussion: Composite Monuments Symbol-stones and Monumentamentioning
This article develops recent interpretations of mortuary practices as contexts for producing social memory and personhood to argue that early medieval cairns and mounds served to commemorate concepts of gender and genealogy. Commemorative strategies are identified in the composite character, shape and location of cairns and in their relationship with other commemorative monuments, namely Class I symbol-stones. The argument is developed through a consideration of the excavations of early medieval cists and cairns at Lundin Links in Fife.
“…There have been repeated attempts to decipher the meaning of the symbols since the nineteenth century (Table S1 in the online supplementary material), with wide-ranging interpretations, including icons of pagan or Christian religion (e.g. the Earl of Southesk 1893; Allen & Anderson 1903 [1993]), symbols of rank or tribal identity (Diack 1944; Thomas 1963; Henderson 1967), symbols of marriage alliances (Jackson 1984) and memorials to the dead (Laing & Laing 1984; Driscoll 1988; Mack 2007), as well as countless ‘fringe’ ideas and speculation.Figure 2Examples of Pictish symbols (after RCAHMS 2007). …”
“…The fourth strand of evidence comes from coins. In 1963, Thomas (1963, fig. 15 and appendix II) examined the depictions of human faces with tattooed cheeks and necks found in early Gallic coinage dating generally within the later third and second centuries BC (see Fig.…”
Section: Archaeological Evidence For Tattooing and Body Paintingmentioning
This paper explores the archaeological evidence for the practice of facial and corporeal dyeing, painting and tattooing in the later Iron Age and early Roman period. The aim is to construct a hypothesis which explains how, why, when and by whom such pigments were worn. Although this hypothesis discusses woad-derived indigo, this is used mainly, although not exclusively, as an experimental tool, as no conclusive archaeological evidence exists which reveals the identity of the 'real' pigment(s). Woad has also long held a place in the popular imagination as the source of the dye which the ancient Britons used to paint themselves. This paper explores the possibility that the cosmetic grinder was the focal artefact used in body painting or tattooing, and was used for grinding and mixing body and face paint. It is suggested that, rather than being a 'Roman'-style tool for cosmetic application from the start, it may have begun life as an artefact first used by the later Iron Age Britons for body painting and expressing indigenous identities.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
