ARP 2011 “Symbols in Context: 6th-7th Century AD North East Scotland and the emerging Kingships of the Picts, local and international narratives” by Dr Gordon Noble, University of Aberdeen, at the Archaeological Research in Progress (ARP 2011) national day conference on Saturday 28th May 2011 at the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

See also: https://www.abdn.ac.uk/geosciences/departments/archaeology/the-northern-picts-project-259.php

The Picts are a ‘lost people of Europe’ and a past society of enduring public fascination. First mentioned in late Roman writings as a collection of troublesome social groupings north of the Roman frontier, the Picts went on to dominate northern and eastern Scotland until late first millennium AD. The emergence of the Pictish kingdoms was part of broader change in northern Europe that laid the foundations for the modern nation states of Europe. The major legacies of the Picts include some of the most spectacular archaeological sites and artistic achievements of Early Medieval European society. However, all trace of the Picts disappeared from the written records in the 9th century AD, and only limited and contentious documentary sources survive.

Northern Picts is a project that aims to uncover the archaeological traces of Pictish society in northern Scotland. The project to date has had some spectacular successes. We have begun to uncover a major and undocumented Pictish royal centre at Rhynie and discovered a significant portion of a major Pictish silver hoard at Gaulcross. We have scaled sea cliffs to discover forgotten Pictish forts and centres of power.

Our community-embedded project relies on the enthusiasm, and logistical and financial support, of a wide range of sponsors. Any and all donations are gratefully received and carefully used to further our research.