Clach an Tiompain

Clach an Tiompain (in English, the "Sounding Stone") or The Eagle Stone is a small Class I Pictish stone[1] located on a hill on the northern outskirts of Strathpeffer in Easter Ross, Scotland.

The Eagle Stone
Clach an Tiompain
Clach an Tiompain, Strathpeffer
MaterialBlue gneiss
Height32 inches (81 cm)
Width24 inches (61 cm)
Symbols
  • Horseshoe
  • Eagle
Created500-700AD
Present locationStrathpeffer, Easter Ross
grid ref NH48455852 [1]
Coordinates57°35′29″N 4°32′8″W
ClassificationClass I incised stone
CulturePicto-Scottish

Description

The stone is made of blue gneiss and is 32 inches (81 cm) high, 24 inches (61 cm) wide, and 10 inches (25 cm) thick.[1] Carved on the southeast side are two images, a horse shoe-like arc symbol above an eagle.

History

The stone was originally located further down the hill, towards Dingwall, but was moved to its current site in 1411.[2] One old tradition is that the stone marks the site of a Scottish clan battle that took place in 1411 between the Clan Munro and a branch of the Clan MacDonald, and that the stone commemorates a Munro victory as it is marked with their symbol, an eagle.[3] According to Norman Macrae the stone was placed there by the Munros while marching against Donald of Islay, Lord of the Isles.[4]

The stone is associated with the prophecies of the 16th century Brahan Seer (Scottish Gaelic: Coinneach Odhar). He predicted that if the stone fell three times, the surrounding valley would be flooded, and the stone used as an anchor.

It has since fallen twice, and is now set in concrete.

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References
  1. Site Record for Strathpeffer, Clach An Tiompain, Strathpeffer, The Eaglestone, Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. Has some nice pictures, including drawings of the images
  2. Scott, Douglas, The Stones of the Pictish Peninsulas, (Hilton Trust, 2004).
  3. Gracie, James (1997). "2". the Munros. Lang Syne Publishers Ltd. pp. 18–19. ISBN 978-1-85217-080-6.
  4. Macrae, Norman (1974). The Romance Of A Royal Burgh: Dingwall's Story Of A Thousand Years. EP Publishing. p. 47.
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