The Picts
Summary
The scourge of Rome
The Picts occupied much of Scotland; native peoples described by Roman authors as the ‘painted (tattooed) ones’ and were long considered to be a mysterious lost people from a very dark age. This tour will explore how, even though they left behind no surviving documents, the Picts helped lay the foundation of modern Scotland. We can now have rewarding explorations of Pictland, with new historical and archaeological breakthroughs, revolutionising our understanding of the Picts and their kingdoms, from the time of the Romans until the disappearance of their distinctive culture by 900AD within the unified Gaelic kingdom of Alba. The primary source of evidence they have left behind is found in their remarkable stone sculpture, some of the finest artistic creations of the early medieval period in Europe.
What to Expect
- Discover the unique collections of Pictish artefacts in the National Museum of Scotland
- Admire masterpieces of stone carvings such as the Dupplin Cross and the St. Andrews sarcophagus
- Experience almost all the finest monumental Christian sculpture produced by the Picts
- Learn about the art of stone carving with a specially arranged visit to stone carver David McGovern’s workshop
