Picts at Weymss

Weymss lies on the coast of Fife, and has a collection of remarkable stones carvings in caves. These quite simple carvings are usually given an early date in the Pictish period. Coastal erosion and human activity have caused many of these carvings to be damaged or lost entirely.

Two of the carvings include a figure accompanied by something resembling the letter 'h'

The figure of a warrior? carrying what appears to be a spear with a bulbous end, may actually represent god.

The 'h'-like symbol has tentatively identified as being a creature of some kind, however its does bear some similarity to the lettering on the Newton Stone (see Picts at Pitmachie on this website)

sources

The Newton Stones and Writing in Pictland (parts I and II) by Kelly Kilpatrick

published in The Proceedings of The Society of Antiquities of Scotland 150 (2021) (online)

scapetrust.org (online)

The Gods of the Celts by Miranda Green

4dwemysscaves.org (online)

photos

my own

Version 1.0

Cassius Dio writing in the early 3rd century, said that there are main peoples of Britain, the Maeatae, who live near Hadrian's Wall and the Caledonians which lie beyond them. In his perhaps fanciful description of these people, he includes that they are armed with shield, dagger and a short spear which has a bronze apple attached to the shaft, which when shaken, clashes and terrifies the enemy. This figure appears to have such an apple. Some objects which fit this description have been found in Scotland and Ireland.

The Panegyric of Constantine, written a century later, mentions "the Caledonians and other Picts" (see A Brief Introduction to the Picts - Roman Sources on this website)

Two silver plaques on display in the Tullie Museum, Carlisle, dedicated to the god Cocidius.

Cocidius appears to have been a British god, adopted by Roman soldiers, as inscriptions dedicated to him have been found at several military sites in northern England.

It is possible that carving at Wemyss is also a dedication to Cocidius.

There are a number of stones which feature a single figure armed with a spear, which has the bulbous shape on the end of the shaft, from eastern Scotland.

This type of figure is not, however, restricted to Scotland, but is also found across northern England. Like the examples in Scotland, this spear-armed figure is not usually accompanied by an inscription.

Dr Kilpatrick in The Newton Stones and Writing in Pictland (parts II), has a detailed analysis of the inscription on the Newton stone. In the examination of the lettering, Dr Kilpatrick compares those on the Newton Stone, with other examples.

Does the carving to the left of the figure actually represent a letter, rather than an animal? It bears some resemblance to letter 16 in Illus 7, in Dr Kilpatrick's paper. Dr Kilpatrick in Table 4, suggests that letter 16 may be an 'n' or possible an 'h'.